# CVE-2022-49159: scsi: qla2xxx: Implement ref count for SRB

> A race condition in the qla2xxx SCSI driver causes a NULL pointer dereference, leading to a kernel crash and denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 26 Feb 2025
- **Updated:** 15 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2022-49159, GHSA-62cc-p492-pjh2, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-49159

## What is CVE-2022-49159?

CVE-2022-49159 is a high-severity 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:

scsi: qla2xxx: Implement ref count for SRB

The timeout handler and the done function are racing. When
qla2x00_async_iocb_timeout() starts to run it can be preempted by the
normal response path (via the firmware?). qla24xx_async_gpsc_sp_done()
releases the SRB unconditionally. When scheduling back to
qla2x00_async_iocb_timeout() qla24xx_async_abort_cmd() will access an freed
sp->qpair pointer:

  qla2xxx [0000:83:00.0]-2871:0: Async-gpsc timeout - hdl=63d portid=234500 50:06:0e:80:08:77:b6:21.
  qla2xxx [0000:83:00.0]-2853:0: Async done-gpsc res 0, WWPN 50:06:0e:80:08:77:b6:21
  qla2xxx [0000:83:00.0]-2854:0: Async-gpsc OUT WWPN 20:45:00:27:f8:75:33:00 speeds=2c00 speed=0400.
  qla2xxx [0000:83:00.0]-28d8:0: qla24xx_handle_gpsc_event 50:06:0e:80:08:77:b6:21 DS 7 LS 6 rc 0 login 1|1 rscn 1|0 lid 5
  BUG: unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0000000000000004
  IP: qla24xx_async_abort_cmd+0x1b/0x1c0 [qla2xxx]

Obvious solution to this is to introduce a reference counter. One reference
is taken for the normal code path (the 'good' case) and one for the timeout
path. As we always race between the normal good case and the timeout/abort
handler we need to serialize it. Also we cannot assume any order between
the handlers. Since this is slow path we can use proper synchronization via
locks.

When we are able to cancel a timer (del_timer returns 1) we know there
can't be any error handling in progress because the timeout handler hasn't
expired yet, thus we can safely decrement the refcounter by one.

If we are not able to cancel the timer, we know an abort handler is
running. We have to make sure we call sp->done() in the abort handlers
before calling kref_put().

Weakness: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-49159?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-49159?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2022-49159 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-49159 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-49159 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-49159 is a high-severity 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-49159 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. 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-2022-49159/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-49159/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-49159
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-49159
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-49159

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-49159/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.