CVE-2022-49851

CVE-2022-49851 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-125.

Key facts

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: riscv: fix reserved memory setup Currently, RISC-V sets up reserved memory using the "early" copy of the device tree. As a result, when trying to get a reserved memory region using of_reserved_mem_lookup(), the pointer to reserved memory regions is using the early, pre-virtual-memory address which causes a kernel panic when trying to use the buffer's name: Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address 00000000401c31ac Oops [#1] Modules linked in: CPU: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper Not tainted 6.0.0-rc1-00001-g0d9d6953d834 #1 Hardware name: Microchip PolarFire-SoC Icicle Kit (DT) epc : string+0x4a/0xea ra : vsnprintf+0x1e4/0x336 epc : ffffffff80335ea0 ra : ffffffff80338936 sp : ffffffff81203be0 gp : ffffffff812e0a98 tp : ffffffff8120de40 t0 : 0000000000000000 t1 : ffffffff81203e28 t2 : 7265736572203a46 s0 : ffffffff81203c20 s1 : ffffffff81203e28 a0 : ffffffff81203d22 a1 : 0000000000000000 a2 : ffffffff81203d08 a3 : 0000000081203d21 a4 : ffffffffffffffff a5 : 00000000401c31ac a6 : ffff0a00ffffff04 a7 : ffffffffffffffff s2 : ffffffff81203d08 s3 : ffffffff81203d00 s4 : 0000000000000008 s5 : ffffffff000000ff s6 : 0000000000ffffff s7 : 00000000ffffff00 s8 : ffffffff80d9821a s9 : ffffffff81203d22 s10: 0000000000000002 s11: ffffffff80d9821c t3 : ffffffff812f3617 t4 : ffffffff812f3617 t5 : ffffffff812f3618 t6 : ffffffff81203d08 status: 0000000200000100 badaddr: 00000000401c31ac cause: 000000000000000d [<ffffffff80338936>] vsnprintf+0x1e4/0x336 [<ffffffff80055ae2>] vprintk_store+0xf6/0x344 [<ffffffff80055d86>] vprintk_emit+0x56/0x192 [<ffffffff80055ed8>] vprintk_default+0x16/0x1e [<ffffffff800563d2>] vprintk+0x72/0x80 [<ffffffff806813b2>] _printk+0x36/0x50 [<ffffffff8068af48>] print_reserved_mem+0x1c/0x24 [<ffffffff808057ec>] paging_init+0x528/0x5bc [<ffffffff808031ae>] setup_arch+0xd0/0x592 [<ffffffff8080070e>] start_kernel+0x82/0x73c early_init_fdt_scan_reserved_mem() takes no arguments as it operates on initial_boot_params, which is populated by early_init_dt_verify(). On RISC-V, early_init_dt_verify() is called twice. Once, directly, in setup_arch() if CONFIG_BUILTIN_DTB is not enabled and once indirectly, very early in the boot process, by parse_dtb() when it calls early_init_dt_scan_nodes(). This first call uses dtb_early_va to set initial_boot_params, which is not usable later in the boot process when early_init_fdt_scan_reserved_mem() is called. On arm64 for example, the corresponding call to early_init_dt_scan_nodes() uses fixmap addresses and doesn't suffer the same fate. Move early_init_fdt_scan_reserved_mem() further along the boot sequence, after the direct call to early_init_dt_verify() in setup_arch() so that the names use the correct virtual memory addresses. The above supposed that CONFIG_BUILTIN_DTB was not set, but should work equally in the case where it is - unflatted_and_copy_device_tree() also updates initial_boot_params.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2022-49851?
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: riscv: fix reserved memory setup Currently, RISC-V sets up reserved memory using the "early" copy of the device tree. As a result, when trying to get a reserved memory region using of_reserved_mem_lookup(), the pointer to reserved memory regions is using the early, pre-virtual-memory address which causes a kernel panic when trying to use the buffer's name: Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address 00000000401c31ac Oops [#1] Modules linked in: CPU: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper Not tainted 6.0.0-rc1-00001-g0d9d6953d834 #1 Hardware name: Microchip PolarFire-SoC Icicle Kit (DT) epc : string+0x4a/0xea ra : vsnprintf+0x1e4/0x336 epc : ffffffff80335ea0 ra : ffffffff80338936 sp : ffffffff81203be0 gp : ffffffff812e0a98 tp : ffffffff8120de40 t0 : 0000000000000000 t1 : ffffffff81203e28 t2 : 7265736572203a46 s0 : ffffffff81203c20 s1 : ffffffff81203e28 a0 : ffffffff81203d22 a1 : 0000000000000000 a2 : ffffffff81203d08 a3 : 0000000081203d21 a4 : ffffffffffffffff a5 : 00000000401c31ac a6 : ffff0a00ffffff04 a7 : ffffffffffffffff s2 : ffffffff81203d08 s3 : ffffffff81203d00 s4 : 0000000000000008 s5 : ffffffff000000ff s6 : 0000000000ffffff s7 : 00000000ffffff00 s8 : ffffffff80d9821a s9 : ffffffff81203d22 s10: 0000000000000002 s11: ffffffff80d9821c t3 : ffffffff812f3617 t4 : ffffffff812f3617 t5 : ffffffff812f3618 t6 : ffffffff81203d08 status: 0000000200000100 badaddr: 00000000401c31ac cause: 000000000000000d [<ffffffff80338936>] vsnprintf+0x1e4/0x336 [<ffffffff80055ae2>] vprintk_store+0xf6/0x344 [<ffffffff80055d86>] vprintk_emit+0x56/0x192 [<ffffffff80055ed8>] vprintk_default+0x16/0x1e [<ffffffff800563d2>] vprintk+0x72/0x80 [<ffffffff806813b2>] _printk+0x36/0x50 [<ffffffff8068af48>] print_reserved_mem+0x1c/0x24 [<ffffffff808057ec>] paging_init+0x528/0x5bc [<ffffffff808031ae>] setup_arch+0xd0/0x592 [<ffffffff8080070e>] start_kernel+0x82/0x73c early_init_fdt_scan_reserved_mem() takes no arguments as it operates on initial_boot_params, which is populated by early_init_dt_verify(). On RISC-V, early_init_dt_verify() is called twice. Once, directly, in setup_arch() if CONFIG_BUILTIN_DTB is not enabled and once indirectly, very early in the boot process, by parse_dtb() when it calls early_init_dt_scan_nodes(). This first call uses dtb_early_va to set initial_boot_params, which is not usable later in the boot process when early_init_fdt_scan_reserved_mem() is called. On arm64 for example, the corresponding call to early_init_dt_scan_nodes() uses fixmap addresses and doesn't suffer the same fate. Move early_init_fdt_scan_reserved_mem() further along the boot sequence, after the direct call to early_init_dt_verify() in setup_arch() so that the names use the correct virtual memory addresses. The above supposed that CONFIG_BUILTIN_DTB was not set, but should work equally in the case where it is - unflatted_and_copy_device_tree() also updates initial_boot_params.
How severe is CVE-2022-49851?
CVE-2022-49851 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2022-49851 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (7th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2022-49851?
CVE-2022-49851 primarily affects Linux Linux Kernel. In total, 13 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2022-49851?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2022-49851 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2022-49851 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-12929.
When was CVE-2022-49851 published?
CVE-2022-49851 was published on 2025-05-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (13)

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