# CVE-2022-50168: bpf, x86: fix freeing of not-finalized bpf_prog_pack

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's BPF JIT compiler allows local attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges.

- **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:** 15 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2022-50168, GHSA-mr6m-6rcr-27v3, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-50168

## What is CVE-2022-50168?

CVE-2022-50168 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:

bpf, x86: fix freeing of not-finalized bpf_prog_pack

syzbot reported a few issues with bpf_prog_pack [1], [2]. This only happens
with multiple subprogs. In jit_subprogs(), we first call bpf_int_jit_compile()
on each sub program. And then, we call it on each sub program again. jit_data
is not freed in the first call of bpf_int_jit_compile(). Similarly we don't
call bpf_jit_binary_pack_finalize() in the first call of bpf_int_jit_compile().

If bpf_int_jit_compile() failed for one sub program, we will call
bpf_jit_binary_pack_finalize() for this sub program. However, we don't have a
chance to call it for other sub programs. Then we will hit "goto out_free" in
jit_subprogs(), and call bpf_jit_free on some subprograms that haven't got
bpf_jit_binary_pack_finalize() yet.

At this point, bpf_jit_binary_pack_free() is called and the whole 2MB page is
freed erroneously.

Fix this with a custom bpf_jit_free() for x86_64, which calls
bpf_jit_binary_pack_finalize() if necessary. Also, with custom
bpf_jit_free(), bpf_prog_aux->use_bpf_prog_pack is not needed any more,
remove it.

[1] https://syzkaller.appspot.com/bug?extid=2f649ec6d2eea1495a8f
[2] https://syzkaller.appspot.com/bug?extid=87f65c75f4a72db05445

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-50168?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-50168?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2022-50168 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-50168 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-2022-50168 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-50168 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-2022-50168 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-2022-50168/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-50168/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-50168
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-50168
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-50168

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-50168/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.