# CVE-2022-50243: sctp: handle the error returned from sctp_auth_asoc_init_active_key

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel SCTP implementation allows attackers to trigger crashes or potentially execute code via crafted network packets.

- **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:** 15 Sep 2025
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2022-50243, GHSA-2hwr-p3mh-h7f6, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-50243

## What is CVE-2022-50243?

CVE-2022-50243 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:

sctp: handle the error returned from sctp_auth_asoc_init_active_key

When it returns an error from sctp_auth_asoc_init_active_key(), the
active_key is actually not updated. The old sh_key will be freeed
while it's still used as active key in asoc. Then an use-after-free
will be triggered when sending patckets, as found by syzbot:

  sctp_auth_shkey_hold+0x22/0xa0 net/sctp/auth.c:112
  sctp_set_owner_w net/sctp/socket.c:132 [inline]
  sctp_sendmsg_to_asoc+0xbd5/0x1a20 net/sctp/socket.c:1863
  sctp_sendmsg+0x1053/0x1d50 net/sctp/socket.c:2025
  inet_sendmsg+0x99/0xe0 net/ipv4/af_inet.c:819
  sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:714 [inline]
  sock_sendmsg+0xcf/0x120 net/socket.c:734

This patch is to fix it by not replacing the sh_key when it returns
errors from sctp_auth_asoc_init_active_key() in sctp_auth_set_key().
For sctp_auth_set_active_key(), old active_key_id will be set back
to asoc->active_key_id when the same thing happens.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-50243?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-50243?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2022-50243 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-50243 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-2022-50243 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-50243 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-50243 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-2022-50243/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-50243/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-50243
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-50243
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-50243

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-50243/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.