# CVE-2022-49995: writeback: avoid use-after-free after removing device

> A use-after-free in the Linux kernel writeback subsystem allows attackers to cause denial of service or execute code when a disk is removed.

- **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:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2022-49995, GHSA-cw67-vp4w-w46p, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-49995

## What is CVE-2022-49995?

CVE-2022-49995 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:

writeback: avoid use-after-free after removing device

When a disk is removed, bdi_unregister gets called to stop further
writeback and wait for associated delayed work to complete.  However,
wb_inode_writeback_end() may schedule bandwidth estimation dwork after
this has completed, which can result in the timer attempting to access the
just freed bdi_writeback.

Fix this by checking if the bdi_writeback is alive, similar to when
scheduling writeback work.

Since this requires wb->work_lock, and wb_inode_writeback_end() may get
called from interrupt, switch wb->work_lock to an irqsafe lock.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-49995?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-49995?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2022-49995 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-49995 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-2022-49995 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-49995 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-2022-49995 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-2022-49995/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-49995/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-49995
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-49995
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-49995

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-49995/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.