CVE-2022-50542 media: si470x: Fix use-after-free in si470x_int_in_callback()
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's si470x radio driver allows attackers to 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-2022-50542?
CVE-2022-50542 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 7 Oct 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:
media: si470x: Fix use-after-free in si470x_int_in_callback()
syzbot reported use-after-free in si470x_int_in_callback() [1]. This indicates that urb->context, which contains struct si470x_device object, is freed when si470x_int_in_callback() is called.
The cause of this issue is that si470x_int_in_callback() is called for freed urb.
si470x_usb_driver_probe() calls si470x_start_usb(), which then calls usb_submit_urb() and si470x_start(). If si470x_start_usb() fails, si470x_usb_driver_probe() doesn't kill urb, but it just frees struct si470x_device object, as depicted below:
si470x_usb_driver_probe() ... si470x_start_usb() ... usb_submit_urb() retval = si470x_start() return retval if (retval < 0) free struct si470x_device object, but don't kill urb
This patch fixes this issue by killing urb when si470x_start_usb() fails and urb is submitted. If si470x_start_usb() fails and urb is not submitted, i.e. submitting usb fails, it just frees struct si470x_device object.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-50542?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2022-50542?
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-2022-50542 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-50542 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2022-50542, GHSA-6wcc-3gxf-38rg, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-50542.