CVE-2022-48988

memcg: fix possible use-after-free in memcg_write_event_control()

Published Oct 21, 2024 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

memcg: fix possible use-after-free in memcg_write_event_control()

memcg_write_event_control() accesses the dentry->d_name of the specified
control fd to route the write call. As a cgroup interface file can't be
renamed, it's safe to access d_name as long as the specified file is a
regular cgroup file. Also, as these cgroup interface files can't be
removed before the directory, it's safe to access the parent too.

Prior to 347c4a874710 ("memcg: remove cgroup_event->cft"), there was a
call to __file_cft() which verified that the specified file is a regular
cgroupfs file before further accesses. The cftype pointer returned from
__file_cft() was no longer necessary and the commit inadvertently dropped
the file type check with it allowing any file to slip through. With the
invarients broken, the d_name and parent accesses can now race against
renames and removals of arbitrary files and cause use-after-free's.

Fix the bug by resurrecting the file type check in __file_cft(). Now that
cgroupfs is implemented through kernfs, checking the file operations needs
to go through a layer of indirection. Instead, let's check the superblock
and dentry type.

Analysis

No analysis available yet

Remediation

No remediation available yet

Tracking

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Advisories

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History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Weaknesses CWE-416
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc8:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: memcg: fix possible use-after-free in memcg_write_event_control() memcg_write_event_control() accesses the dentry->d_name of the specified control fd to route the write call. As a cgroup interface file can't be renamed, it's safe to access d_name as long as the specified file is a regular cgroup file. Also, as these cgroup interface files can't be removed before the directory, it's safe to access the parent too. Prior to 347c4a874710 ("memcg: remove cgroup_event->cft"), there was a call to __file_cft() which verified that the specified file is a regular cgroupfs file before further accesses. The cftype pointer returned from __file_cft() was no longer necessary and the commit inadvertently dropped the file type check with it allowing any file to slip through. With the invarients broken, the d_name and parent accesses can now race against renames and removals of arbitrary files and cause use-after-free's. Fix the bug by resurrecting the file type check in __file_cft(). Now that cgroupfs is implemented through kernfs, checking the file operations needs to go through a layer of indirection. Instead, let's check the superblock and dentry type.
Title memcg: fix possible use-after-free in memcg_write_event_control()
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Aug 5, 2026, 8:53 AM
Reserved
Aug 22, 2024, 1:27 AM
Status
Modified
Published
Oct 21, 2024, 8:15 PM
Modified
Aug 4, 2026, 10:17 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 21, 2024, 12:00 AM