CVE-2022-50234 io_uring/af_unix: defer registered files gc to io_uring release
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's io_uring and af_unix subsystems allows local attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges.
- 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
What is CVE-2022-50234?
CVE-2022-50234 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 15 Sep 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:
io_uring/af_unix: defer registered files gc to io_uring release
Instead of putting io_uring's registered files in unix_gc() we want it to be done by io_uring itself. The trick here is to consider io_uring registered files for cycle detection but not actually putting them down. Because io_uring can't register other ring instances, this will remove all refs to the ring file triggering the ->release path and clean up with io_ring_ctx_free().
[axboe: add kerneldoc comment to skb, fold in skb leak fix]
Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-50234?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2022-50234?
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-2022-50234 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-50234 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2022-50234, GHSA-qhp4-v642-v3xp, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2022-50234, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-50234.