CVE-2022-34918 Memory corruption in n/a

High 7.8 Published 4 Jul 2022 Updated 14 Oct 2026

A local attacker can escalate privileges to root via a type confusion bug in the Linux kernel's nft_set_elem_init function, requiring an unprivileged user namespace.

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

What is CVE-2022-34918?

CVE-2022-34918 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 4 Jul 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

An issue was discovered in the Linux kernel through 5.18.9. A type confusion bug in nft_set_elem_init (leading to a buffer overflow) could be used by a local attacker to escalate privileges, a different vulnerability than CVE-2022-32250. (The attacker can obtain root access, but must start with an unprivileged user namespace to obtain CAP_NET_ADMIN access.) This can be fixed in nft_setelem_parse_data in net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c.

Weakness: CWE-843

Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-34918?

It affects 8 products.

Linux distribution packages (10)

`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-70_13_1` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos	All versions	`0:1-2.el9_0`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-70_13_1-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos	All versions	`0:1-2.el9_0`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-70_13_1-debugsource` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos	All versions	`0:1-2.el9_0`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-70_17_1` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos	All versions	`0:1-1.el9_0`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-70_17_1-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos	All versions	`0:1-1.el9_0`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-70_17_1-debugsource` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos	All versions	`0:1-1.el9_0`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-70_22_1` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos	All versions	`0:1-1.el9_0`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-70_22_1-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos	All versions	`0:1-1.el9_0`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-70_22_1-debugsource` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos	All versions	`0:1-1.el9_0`
`kernel-source` openSUSE:Tumbleweed	All versions	`5.18.9-2.1`

Products include Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel, Netapp H300s Firmware, Netapp H410c Firmware, Netapp H410s Firmware and 2 more.

How do I fix CVE-2022-34918?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.

Is CVE-2022-34918 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-34918 exists.

Public exploit code: 1 Metasploit module and 5 proofs of concept on GitHub.

All Canonical Ubuntu Linux vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as AZL-10075, DEBIAN-CVE-2022-34918, GHSA-9v26-h3ph-p8v7, RHSA-2022:6592, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-34918, USN-5545-1 and 1 more.