CVE-2022-49264: exec: Force single empty string when argv is empty

Published Feb 26, 2025
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

exec: Force single empty string when argv is empty

Quoting[1] Ariadne Conill:

"In several other operating systems, it is a hard requirement that the second argument to execve(2) be the name of a program, thus prohibiting a scenario where argc < 1. POSIX 2017 also recommends this behaviour, but it is not an explicit requirement[2]:

The argument arg0 should point to a filename string that is associated with the process being started by one of the exec functions. ... Interestingly, Michael Kerrisk opened an issue about this in 2008[3], but there was no consensus to support fixing this issue then. Hopefully now that CVE-2021-4034 shows practical exploitative use[4] of this bug in a shellcode, we can reconsider.

This issue is being tracked in the KSPP issue tracker[5]."

While the initial code searches[6][7] turned up what appeared to be mostly corner case tests, trying to that just reject argv == NULL (or an immediately terminated pointer list) quickly started tripping[8] existing userspace programs.

The next best approach is forcing a single empty string into argv and adjusting argc to match. The number of programs depending on argc == 0 seems a smaller set than those calling execve with a NULL argv.

Account for the additional stack space in bprmstacklimits(). Inject an empty string when argc == 0 (and set argc = 1). Warn about the case so userspace has some notice about the change:

process './argc0' launched './argc0' with NULL argv: empty string added

Additionally WARN() and reject NULL argv usage for kernel threads.

[1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220127000724.15106-1-ariadne@dereferenced.org/ [2] https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/functions/exec.html [3] https://bugzilla.kernel.org/showbug.cgi?id=8408 [4] https://www.qualys.com/2022/01/25/cve-2021-4034/pwnkit.txt [5] https://github.com/KSPP/linux/issues/176 [6] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execve%5C+%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C+NULL&literal=0 [7] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execlp%3F%5Cs%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C%5CsNULL&literal=0 [8] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220131144352.GE16385@xsang-OptiPlex-9020/

Affected Software

161 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel
Linux Linux kernel<4.9.317
Linux Linux kernel>=4.10<4.14.282
Linux Linux kernel>=4.15<4.19.246
Linux Linux kernel>=4.20<5.4.197
Linux Linux kernel>=5.5<5.10.110
Linux Linux kernel>=5.11<5.15.33
Linux Linux kernel>=5.16<5.16.19
Linux Linux kernel>=5.17<5.17.2
debian/linux<5.17.3-1
5.17.3-1
debian/linux<5.17.3-1
5.17.3-1
debian/linux<5.17.3-1
5.17.3-1
debian/linux
6.1.176-16.1.190-16.12.107-16.12.115-27.2.12-17.2.15-1
ubuntu/linux-azure<4.15.0-1149.164~14.04.1
4.15.0-1149.164~14.04.1
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial*
ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe<4.15.0-1139.150~16.04.1
4.15.0-1139.150~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<4.15.0-1149.164~16.04.1
4.15.0-1149.164~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gcp<4.15.0-1134.150~16.04.2
4.15.0-1134.150~16.04.2
ubuntu/linux-hwe<4.15.0-191.202~16.04.1
4.15.0-191.202~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oracle<4.15.0-1104.115~16.04.1
4.15.0-1104.115~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-kvm*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux<4.15.0-191.202
4.15.0-191.202
ubuntu/linux-aws<4.15.0-1139.150
4.15.0-1139.150
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4<5.4.0-1085.92~18.04.1
5.4.0-1085.92~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-4.15<4.15.0-1149.164
4.15.0-1149.164
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4<5.4.0-1091.96~18.04.1
5.4.0-1091.96~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-4.15<4.15.0-1134.150
4.15.0-1134.150
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4<5.4.0-1089.97~18.04.1
5.4.0-1089.97~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4<5.4.0-126.142~18.04.1
5.4.0-126.142~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4<5.4.0-1033.37~18.04.1
5.4.0-1033.37~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-kvm<4.15.0-1125.130
4.15.0-1125.130
ubuntu/linux-oracle<4.15.0-1104.115
4.15.0-1104.115
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4<5.4.0-1083.91~18.04.1
5.4.0-1083.91~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4<5.4.0-1070.80~18.04.1
5.4.0-1070.80~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-oem*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<4.15.0-2078.83
4.15.0-2078.83
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<4.15.0-2059.65
4.15.0-2059.65
ubuntu/linux-fips<4.15.0-1096.107
4.15.0-1096.107
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<4.15.0-2043.48
4.15.0-2043.48
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux<5.4.0-126.142
5.4.0-126.142
ubuntu/linux-aws<5.4.0-1085.92
5.4.0-1085.92
ubuntu/linux-azure<5.4.0-1091.96
5.4.0-1091.96
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15<5.15.0-1008.9~20.04.1
5.15.0-1008.9~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.4.0-1046.51
5.4.0-1046.51
ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.4.0-1089.97
5.4.0-1089.97
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-41.44~20.04.1
5.15.0-41.44~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.4.0-1033.37
5.4.0-1033.37
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15<5.15.0-1008.11~20.04.1
5.15.0-1008.11~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-iot<5.4.0-1004.6
5.4.0-1004.6
ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.4.0-1075.80
5.4.0-1075.80
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-42.45~20.04.1
5.15.0-42.45~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.4.0-1083.91
5.4.0-1083.91
ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.4.0-1070.80
5.4.0-1070.80
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<5.4.0-1085.92+fips1
5.4.0-1085.92+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.4.0-1091.96+fips1
5.4.0-1091.96+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips<5.4.0-1061.69
5.4.0-1061.69
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.4.0-1089.97+fips1
5.4.0-1089.97+fips1
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux<5.15.0-37.39
5.15.0-37.39
ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws<5.15.0-1011.14
5.15.0-1011.14
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure<5.15.0-1010.12
5.15.0-1010.12
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.15.0-1008.12
5.15.0-1008.12
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-gke<5.15.0-1008.10
5.15.0-1008.10
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.15.0-1007.8
5.15.0-1007.8
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg<5.15.0-1008.11
5.15.0-1008.11
ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.15.0-1010.11
5.15.0-1010.11
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<5.15.0-37.39
5.15.0-37.39
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.15.0-1009.12
5.15.0-1009.12
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.15.0-1011.13
5.15.0-1011.13
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-realtime<5.15.0-1014.14
5.15.0-1014.14
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-vmware*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.17.3-1
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.176-1Fixed in 6.1.190-1Fixed in 6.12.107-1Fixed in 6.12.115-2Fixed in 7.2.12-1Fixed in 7.2.15-1
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1149.164~14.04.1
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1139.150~16.04.1
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1149.164~16.04.1
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1134.150~16.04.2
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-191.202~16.04.1
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1104.115~16.04.1
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-191.202
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1139.150
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1085.92~18.04.1
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-4.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1149.164
  13. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1091.96~18.04.1
  14. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-4.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1134.150
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1089.97~18.04.1
  16. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-126.142~18.04.1
  17. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1033.37~18.04.1
  18. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1125.130
  19. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1104.115
  20. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1083.91~18.04.1
  21. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1070.80~18.04.1
  22. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-2078.83
  23. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-2059.65
  24. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1096.107
  25. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-2043.48
  26. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-126.142
  27. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1085.92
  28. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1091.96
  29. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1008.9~20.04.1
  30. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1046.51
  31. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1089.97
  32. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-41.44~20.04.1
  33. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1033.37
  34. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1008.11~20.04.1
  35. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-iot to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1004.6
  36. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1075.80
  37. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-42.45~20.04.1
  38. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1083.91
  39. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1070.80
  40. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1085.92+fips1
  41. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1091.96+fips1
  42. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1061.69
  43. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1089.97+fips1
  44. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-37.39
  45. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1011.14
  46. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1010.12
  47. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1008.12
  48. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1008.10
  49. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1007.8
  50. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1008.11
  51. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1010.11
  52. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-37.39
  53. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1009.12
  54. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1011.13
  55. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1014.14

Event History

Feb 26, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·01:56 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·01:56 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via OSV·07:01 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·07:01 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2022-49264?

CVE-2022-49264 has a medium severity level as it relates to improper handling of command-line arguments in the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2022-49264?

To fix CVE-2022-49264, update your Linux kernel to a version that includes the security patch addressing this vulnerability.

3

Which Linux kernel versions are affected by CVE-2022-49264?

CVE-2022-49264 affects multiple versions of the Linux kernel ranging from versions prior to 4.9.317 to those in the 5.x series prior to the patch.

4

What are the potential impacts of CVE-2022-49264 exploitation?

Exploitation of CVE-2022-49264 could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or disrupt processes that rely on properly defined command-line arguments.

5

Is there a workaround for CVE-2022-49264 before applying patches?

There is no known workaround for CVE-2022-49264, making kernel updates essential to mitigate the risk.

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