# CVE-2022-49951: firmware_loader: Fix use-after-free during unregister

> A use-after-free in the Linux kernel firmware loader allows attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges during device unregistration.

- **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:** 18 Jun 2025
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2022-49951, GHSA-m4jv-hg4p-x3x5, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-49951

## What is CVE-2022-49951?

CVE-2022-49951 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 18 Jun 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:

firmware_loader: Fix use-after-free during unregister

In the following code within firmware_upload_unregister(), the call to
device_unregister() could result in the dev_release function freeing the
fw_upload_priv structure before it is dereferenced for the call to
module_put(). This bug was found by the kernel test robot using
CONFIG_KASAN while running the firmware selftests.

  device_unregister(&fw_sysfs->dev);
  module_put(fw_upload_priv->module);

The problem is fixed by copying fw_upload_priv->module to a local variable
for use when calling device_unregister().

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-49951?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-49951?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2022-49951 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-49951 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-2022-49951 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-49951 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 18 Jun 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-2022-49951 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-2022-49951/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-49951/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-49951
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-49951
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-49951

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-49951/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.