CVE-2022-50531
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability is an information leak in the Linux kernel's TIPC (Transparent Inter-Process Communication) subsystem. When a user issues a setsockopt() call with SOL_TIPC, uninitialized kernel memory can be exposed to user space. This affects Linux systems using TIPC networking.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Sensitive kernel memory contents (potentially including passwords, keys, or other secrets) could be leaked to unprivileged users, leading to privilege escalation or further attacks.
Likely Case
Limited information disclosure of kernel memory contents to local users, potentially revealing system state information or small amounts of sensitive data.
If Mitigated
No information leak occurs; kernel memory remains protected from user space access.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and knowledge of TIPC socket operations. The vulnerability was discovered through KMSAN (Kernel Memory Sanitizer) analysis.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Fixed in Linux kernel stable versions via commits referenced in CVE
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3d1b83ff7b6575a4e41283203e6b2e25ea700cd7
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify TIPC functionality if needed.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable TIPC module
linuxPrevent loading of TIPC kernel module to eliminate attack surface
echo 'install tipc /bin/false' >> /etc/modprobe.d/disable-tipc.conf
rmmod tipc
Restrict TIPC socket operations
linuxUse kernel security modules to restrict setsockopt operations
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable TIPC functionality if not required
- Implement strict access controls to prevent unauthorized users from creating TIPC sockets
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if TIPC module is loaded: lsmod | grep tipc. Check kernel version against patched versions.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes fix commits. Test TIPC functionality if required.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel logs showing KMSAN warnings about uninitialized memory
- Audit logs of setsockopt calls with SOL_TIPC
Network Indicators:
- Unusual TIPC socket activity from untrusted users
SIEM Query:
process:setsockopt AND socket:tipc AND user:!root🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3d1b83ff7b6575a4e41283203e6b2e25ea700cd7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/567f8de358b61015dcfb8878a1f06c5369a45f54
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/777ecaabd614d47c482a5c9031579e66da13989a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dbc01c0a4e202a7e925dad1d4b7c1d6eb0c81154
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e558e148938442dd49628cd7ef61c360832bef31
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fef70f978bc289642501d88d2a3f5e841bd31a67
