CVE-2022-50579
Unknown Unknown - Not Provided
BaseFortify

Publication date: 2025-10-22

Last updated on: 2025-10-22

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: arm64: ftrace: fix module PLTs with mcount Li Huafei reports that mcount-based ftrace with module PLTs was broken by commit: a6253579977e4c6f ("arm64: ftrace: consistently handle PLTs.") When a module PLTs are used and a module is loaded sufficiently far away from the kernel, we'll create PLTs for any branches which are out-of-range. These are separate from the special ftrace trampoline PLTs, which the module PLT code doesn't directly manipulate. When mcount is in use this is a problem, as each mcount callsite in a module will be initialized to point to a module PLT, but since commit a6253579977e4c6f ftrace_make_nop() will assume that the callsite has been initialized to point to the special ftrace trampoline PLT, and ftrace_find_callable_addr() rejects other cases. This means that when ftrace tries to initialize a callsite via ftrace_make_nop(), the call to ftrace_find_callable_addr() will find that the `_mcount` stub is out-of-range and is not handled by the ftrace PLT, resulting in a splat: | ftrace_test: loading out-of-tree module taints kernel. | ftrace: no module PLT for _mcount | ------------[ ftrace bug ]------------ | ftrace failed to modify | [<ffff800029180014>] 0xffff800029180014 | actual: 44:00:00:94 | Initializing ftrace call sites | ftrace record flags: 2000000 | (0) | expected tramp: ffff80000802eb3c | ------------[ cut here ]------------ | WARNING: CPU: 3 PID: 157 at kernel/trace/ftrace.c:2120 ftrace_bug+0x94/0x270 | Modules linked in: | CPU: 3 PID: 157 Comm: insmod Tainted: G O 6.0.0-rc6-00151-gcd722513a189-dirty #22 | Hardware name: linux,dummy-virt (DT) | pstate: 60000005 (nZCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) | pc : ftrace_bug+0x94/0x270 | lr : ftrace_bug+0x21c/0x270 | sp : ffff80000b2bbaf0 | x29: ffff80000b2bbaf0 x28: 0000000000000000 x27: ffff0000c4d38000 | x26: 0000000000000001 x25: ffff800009d7e000 x24: ffff0000c4d86e00 | x23: 0000000002000000 x22: ffff80000a62b000 x21: ffff8000098ebea8 | x20: ffff0000c4d38000 x19: ffff80000aa24158 x18: ffffffffffffffff | x17: 0000000000000000 x16: 0a0d2d2d2d2d2d2d x15: ffff800009aa9118 | x14: 0000000000000000 x13: 6333626532303830 x12: 3030303866666666 | x11: 203a706d61727420 x10: 6465746365707865 x9 : 3362653230383030 | x8 : c0000000ffffefff x7 : 0000000000017fe8 x6 : 000000000000bff4 | x5 : 0000000000057fa8 x4 : 0000000000000000 x3 : 0000000000000001 | x2 : ad2cb14bb5438900 x1 : 0000000000000000 x0 : 0000000000000022 | Call trace: | ftrace_bug+0x94/0x270 | ftrace_process_locs+0x308/0x430 | ftrace_module_init+0x44/0x60 | load_module+0x15b4/0x1ce8 | __do_sys_init_module+0x1ec/0x238 | __arm64_sys_init_module+0x24/0x30 | invoke_syscall+0x54/0x118 | el0_svc_common.constprop.4+0x84/0x100 | do_el0_svc+0x3c/0xd0 | el0_svc+0x1c/0x50 | el0t_64_sync_handler+0x90/0xb8 | el0t_64_sync+0x15c/0x160 | ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- | ---------test_init----------- Fix this by reverting to the old behaviour of ignoring the old instruction when initialising an mcount callsite in a module, which was the behaviour prior to commit a6253579977e4c6f.
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Meta Information
Published
2025-10-22
Last Modified
2025-10-22
Generated
2026-05-07
AI Q&A
2025-10-22
EPSS Evaluated
2026-05-05
NVD
CVE-2022-50579
EUVD
EUVD-2022-55649
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel 6.0.0-rc6
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN
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AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?

This vulnerability involves the Linux kernel's arm64 architecture and its ftrace feature, specifically related to module Procedure Linkage Tables (PLTs) and the mcount function used for tracing. A recent commit changed how PLTs are handled, causing issues when modules are loaded far from the kernel. The problem arises because mcount callsites in modules are initialized to point to module PLTs, but the ftrace code assumes they point to a special ftrace trampoline PLT. This mismatch causes ftrace to fail when initializing callsites, leading to kernel errors and warnings, including a kernel taint and a crash-like splat. The fix reverts to the previous behavior of ignoring the old instruction when initializing mcount callsites in modules.


How can this vulnerability impact me? :

This vulnerability can cause kernel instability or crashes when loading certain kernel modules on arm64 systems using ftrace with mcount. It may result in kernel tainting and warnings, potentially affecting system reliability and debugging. This could disrupt normal system operations or module loading processes.


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