CVE-2022-49879

CVE-2022-49879 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. 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-617.

Key facts

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: fix BUG_ON() when directory entry has invalid rec_len The rec_len field in the directory entry has to be a multiple of 4. A corrupted filesystem image can be used to hit a BUG() in ext4_rec_len_to_disk(), called from make_indexed_dir(). ------------[ cut here ]------------ kernel BUG at fs/ext4/ext4.h:2413! ... RIP: 0010:make_indexed_dir+0x53f/0x5f0 ... Call Trace: <TASK> ? add_dirent_to_buf+0x1b2/0x200 ext4_add_entry+0x36e/0x480 ext4_add_nondir+0x2b/0xc0 ext4_create+0x163/0x200 path_openat+0x635/0xe90 do_filp_open+0xb4/0x160 ? __create_object.isra.0+0x1de/0x3b0 ? _raw_spin_unlock+0x12/0x30 do_sys_openat2+0x91/0x150 __x64_sys_open+0x6c/0xa0 do_syscall_64+0x3c/0x80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x46/0xb0 The fix simply adds a call to ext4_check_dir_entry() to validate the directory entry, returning -EFSCORRUPTED if the entry is invalid.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2022-49879?
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: fix BUG_ON() when directory entry has invalid rec_len The rec_len field in the directory entry has to be a multiple of 4. A corrupted filesystem image can be used to hit a BUG() in ext4_rec_len_to_disk(), called from make_indexed_dir(). ------------[ cut here ]------------ kernel BUG at fs/ext4/ext4.h:2413! ... RIP: 0010:make_indexed_dir+0x53f/0x5f0 ... Call Trace: <TASK> ? add_dirent_to_buf+0x1b2/0x200 ext4_add_entry+0x36e/0x480 ext4_add_nondir+0x2b/0xc0 ext4_create+0x163/0x200 path_openat+0x635/0xe90 do_filp_open+0xb4/0x160 ? __create_object.isra.0+0x1de/0x3b0 ? _raw_spin_unlock+0x12/0x30 do_sys_openat2+0x91/0x150 __x64_sys_open+0x6c/0xa0 do_syscall_64+0x3c/0x80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x46/0xb0 The fix simply adds a call to ext4_check_dir_entry() to validate the directory entry, returning -EFSCORRUPTED if the entry is invalid.
How severe is CVE-2022-49879?
CVE-2022-49879 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2022-49879 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (8th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2022-49879?
CVE-2022-49879 primarily affects Linux Linux Kernel. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2022-49879?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
Does CVE-2022-49879 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2022-49879 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-12894.
When was CVE-2022-49879 published?
CVE-2022-49879 was published on 2025-05-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (4)

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