CVE-2022-50481
Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete
BaseFortify

Publication date: 2025-10-04

Last updated on: 2026-01-23

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cxl: fix possible null-ptr-deref in cxl_guest_init_afu|adapter() If device_register() fails in cxl_register_afu|adapter(), the device is not added, device_unregister() can not be called in the error path, otherwise it will cause a null-ptr-deref because of removing not added device. As comment of device_register() says, it should use put_device() to give up the reference in the error path. So split device_unregister() into device_del() and put_device(), then goes to put dev when register fails.
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Meta Information
Published
2025-10-04
Last Modified
2026-01-23
Generated
2026-06-16
AI Q&A
2025-10-04
EPSS Evaluated
2026-06-15
NVD
CVE-2022-50481
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 8 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel From 4.6 (inc) to 4.9.337 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 4.10 (inc) to 4.14.303 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 4.15 (inc) to 4.19.270 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 4.20 (inc) to 5.4.229 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.5 (inc) to 5.10.163 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.11 (inc) to 5.15.86 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.16 (inc) to 6.0.16 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.1 (inc) to 6.1.2 (exc)
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-476 The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.
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Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a possible null pointer dereference in the Linux kernel's cxl_guest_init_afu|adapter() function. It occurs when device_register() fails in cxl_register_afu|adapter(), causing the device not to be added. If device_unregister() is called in this error path, it leads to a null pointer dereference because it tries to remove a device that was never added. The fix involves properly handling the error by splitting device_unregister() into device_del() and put_device(), and using put_device() to release the reference when registration fails.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can cause a null pointer dereference in the Linux kernel, which may lead to a kernel crash or system instability. Such crashes can result in denial of service or unexpected behavior of the system.

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