Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: handle the error...
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.
Impact
Memory is accessed after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior in native code. Typical impact: memory corruption, crash, or potential code execution.
CVE-2022-50243 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2022-50243? CVE-2022-50243 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet. Memory is accessed after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior in native code.
- How severe is CVE-2022-50243? CVE-2022-50243 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2022-50243? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2022-50243 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2022-50243 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2022-50243 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2022-50243 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.