CVE-2022-49127 ref_tracker: implement use-after-free detection

What is CVE-2022-49127?

CVE-2022-49127 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 26 Feb 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ref_tracker: implement use-after-free detection

Whenever ref_tracker_dir_init() is called, mark the struct ref_tracker_dir as dead.

Test the dead status from ref_tracker_alloc() and ref_tracker_free()

This should detect buggy dev_put()/dev_hold() happening too late in netdevice dismantle process.

Weakness: CWE-416

Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-49127?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2022-49127?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2022-49127 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-49127 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

• CVE-2026-53266 Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2013-6282 Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2022-0185 Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2013-2094 Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2026-53362 Linux Kernel Unspecified Exploited High 7.8

All Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2022-49127, GHSA-7vh4-856x-687c, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2022-49127, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-49127.