# CVE-2022-29581: Use after free in Kernel

> A local attacker can exploit a reference count error in the Linux Kernel scheduler to escalate privileges to root.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 May 2022
- **Updated:** 21 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** A-233075473, AZL-12132, DEBIAN-CVE-2022-29581, GHSA-jr5c-f7v3-7g8c, PUB-A-233075473, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-29581, USN-5444-1

## What is CVE-2022-29581?

CVE-2022-29581 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 17 May 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Improper Update of Reference Count vulnerability in net/sched of Linux Kernel allows local attacker to cause privilege escalation to root. This issue affects: Linux Kernel versions prior to 5.18; version 4.14 and later versions.

Weakness: CWE-911 (Improper Update of Reference Count)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-29581?

It affects 11 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel, Netapp H300e Firmware, Netapp H300s Firmware, Netapp H410c Firmware, Netapp H410s Firmware, Netapp H500e Firmware, Netapp H500s Firmware, Netapp H700e Firmware, Netapp H700s Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-29581?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2022-29581 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-29581 exists.

Public exploit code:

- https://github.com/Nidhi77777/linux-4.19.72_CVE-2022-29581 (github_poc): https://github.com/Nidhi77777/linux-4.19.72_CVE-2022-29581
- https://github.com/nidhihcl/linux-4.19.72_CVE-2022-29581 (github_poc): https://github.com/nidhihcl/linux-4.19.72_CVE-2022-29581

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-29581 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-29581 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 17 May 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-29581 exists.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-29581/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-29581/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-29581
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-29581
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-29581

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-29581/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.