CVE-2022-50073: net: tap: NULL pointer derefence in dev_parse_header_protocol when skb->dev is null

Published Jun 18, 2025
·
Updated

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

net: tap: NULL pointer derefence in devparseheaderprotocol when skb->dev is null

Fixes a NULL pointer derefence bug triggered from tap driver. When tapgetuser calls virtionethdrtoskb the skb->dev is null (in tap.c skb->dev is set after the call to virtionethdrtoskb) virtionethdrtoskb calls devparseheaderprotocol which needs skb->dev field to be valid.

The line that trigers the bug is in devparseheaderprotocol (dev is at offset 0x10 from skb and is stored in RAX register) if (!dev->headerops || !dev->headerops->parseprotocol) 22e1: mov 0x10(%rbx),%rax 22e5: mov 0x230(%rax),%rax

Setting skb->dev before the call in tap.c fixes the issue.

BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000230 RIP: 0010:virtionethdrtoskb.constprop.0+0x335/0x410 [tap] Code: c0 0f 85 b7 fd ff ff eb d4 41 39 c6 77 cf 29 c6 48 89 df 44 01 f6 e8 7a 79 83 c1 48 85 c0 0f 85 d9 fd ff ff eb b7 48 8b 43 10 <48> 8b 80 30 02 00 00 48 85 c0 74 55 48 8b 40 28 48 85 c0 74 4c 48 RSP: 0018:ffffc90005c27c38 EFLAGS: 00010246 RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffff888298f25300 RCX: 0000000000000010 RDX: 0000000000000005 RSI: ffffc90005c27cb6 RDI: ffff888298f25300 RBP: ffffc90005c27c80 R08: 00000000ffffffea R09: 00000000000007e8 R10: ffff88858ec77458 R11: 0000000000000000 R12: 0000000000000001 R13: 0000000000000014 R14: ffffc90005c27e08 R15: ffffc90005c27cb6 FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff88858ec40000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000000000000230 CR3: 0000000281408006 CR4: 00000000003706e0 Call Trace: tapgetuser+0x3f1/0x540 [tap] tapsendmsg+0x56/0x362 [tap] ? gettxbufs+0xc2/0x1e0 [vhostnet] handletxcopy+0x114/0x670 [vhostnet] handletx+0xb0/0xe0 [vhostnet] handletxkick+0x15/0x20 [vhostnet] vhostworker+0x7b/0xc0 [vhost] ? vhostvringcallreset+0x40/0x40 [vhost] kthread+0xfa/0x120 ? kthreadcompleteandexit+0x20/0x20 retfromfork+0x1f/0x30

Affected Software

179 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel
Microsoft cbl2 kernel 5.15.186.1-1
debian/linux<5.19.6-1
5.19.6-1
debian/linux<5.19.6-1
5.19.6-1
debian/linux<5.19.6-1
5.19.6-1
debian/linux
6.1.176-16.1.190-16.12.107-16.12.115-27.2.12-17.2.15-1
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-kvm*
ubuntu/linux-oem*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15<5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1
5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15<5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.1
5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15<5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.2
5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.2
ubuntu/linux-bluefield*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15<5.15.0-1112.122~20.04.1
5.15.0-1112.122~20.04.1
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-5.15<5.15.0-186.196~20.04.1
5.15.0-186.196~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-ibm*
ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15<5.15.0-1106.110~20.04.1
5.15.0-1106.110~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15<5.15.0-1107.113~20.04.1
5.15.0-1107.113~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-iot*
ubuntu/linux-kvm*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-184.194~20.04.1
5.15.0-184.194~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15<5.15.0-1064.66~20.04.1
5.15.0-1064.66~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15<5.15.0-1109.115~20.04.1
5.15.0-1109.115~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15<5.15.0-1106.110~20.04.1
5.15.0-1106.110~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux<5.15.0-186.196
5.15.0-186.196
ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws<5.15.0-1112.119
5.15.0-1112.119
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure<5.15.0-1117.126
5.15.0-1117.126
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<5.15.0-1117.126
5.15.0-1117.126
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.15.0-1112.122
5.15.0-1112.122
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-gke<5.15.0-1108.114
5.15.0-1108.114
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<5.15.0-1095.103
5.15.0-1095.103
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.15.0-1106.110
5.15.0-1106.110
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg<5.15.0-1107.113
5.15.0-1107.113
ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.15.0-1104.109
5.15.0-1104.109
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<5.15.0-184.194
5.15.0-184.194
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia<5.15.0-1107.108
5.15.0-1107.108
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<5.15.0-1064.66
5.15.0-1064.66
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx<5.15.0-1053.53
5.15.0-1053.53
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.15.0-1109.115
5.15.0-1109.115
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.15.0-1106.109
5.15.0-1106.109
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-xilinx-zynqmp<5.15.0-1075.79
5.15.0-1075.79
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.15.0-1096.98
5.15.0-1096.98
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime<5.15.0-1104.106
5.15.0-1104.106
ubuntu/linux-realtime<5.15.0-1111.120
5.15.0-1111.120
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<5.15.0-1112.119+fips1
5.15.0-1112.119+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.15.0-1117.126+fips1
5.15.0-1117.126+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips<5.15.0-186.196+fips1
5.15.0-186.196+fips1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.15.0-1112.122+fips1
5.15.0-1112.122+fips1
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
Linux Linux kernel>=4.14.226<4.15
Linux Linux kernel>=4.19.181<4.20
Linux Linux kernel>=5.4.106<5.5
Linux Linux kernel>=5.10.24<5.11
Linux Linux kernel>=5.11.7<5.12
Linux Linux kernel>=5.12.1<5.19.4
Linux Linux kernel=5.12
Linux Linux kernel=5.12-rc3
Linux Linux kernel=5.12-rc4
Linux Linux kernel=5.12-rc5
Linux Linux kernel=5.12-rc6
Linux Linux kernel=5.12-rc7
Linux Linux kernel=5.12-rc8
linux/kernel<5.10.258
5.10.258
linux/kernel>=5.11.0<5.15.209
5.15.209
linux/kernel>=5.12.0<5.19.4
5.19.4

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.19.6-1
  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-aws-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1
  4. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.1
  5. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.2
  6. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.122~20.04.1
  7. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-186.196~20.04.1
  8. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1106.110~20.04.1
  9. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1107.113~20.04.1
  10. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-184.194~20.04.1
  11. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1064.66~20.04.1
  12. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.115~20.04.1
  13. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1106.110~20.04.1
  14. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-186.196
  15. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119
  16. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.126
  17. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.126
  18. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.122
  19. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1108.114
  20. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1095.103
  21. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1106.110
  22. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1107.113
  23. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1104.109
  24. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-184.194
  25. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1107.108
  26. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1064.66
  27. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1053.53
  28. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.115
  29. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1106.109
  30. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1075.79
  31. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1096.98
  32. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1104.106
  33. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.120
  34. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119+fips1
  35. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.126+fips1
  36. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-186.196+fips1
  37. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.122+fips1
  38. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.10.258
  39. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.209
  40. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.19.4
  41. Compensating control

    In tap.c, set skb->dev to a valid device before calling virtio_net_hdr_to_skb, because virtio_net_hdr_to_skb calls dev_parse_header_protocol and requires skb->dev to be valid.

Event History

Jun 18, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·11:02 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·11:02 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via OSV·11:02 AM
DescriptionAffected Software
Data Sourced
via OSV·11:15 AM
Severity
Data Sourced
via NVD·11:15 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Nov 19, 2025
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·01:01 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2022-50073?

CVE-2022-50073 is considered a high severity vulnerability due to its potential to lead to a system crash or denial of service.

2

How do I fix CVE-2022-50073?

To fix CVE-2022-50073, update to a patched version of the Linux kernel that addresses the NULL pointer dereference issue.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2022-50073?

CVE-2022-50073 affects the Linux kernel, specifically instances using the tap driver.

4

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2022-50073?

CVE-2022-50073 is a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability that can be triggered under certain conditions in the Linux kernel.

5

Is there a workaround for CVE-2022-50073?

There are no known workarounds for CVE-2022-50073; the best mitigation is to apply the available kernel updates.

Company

Resources

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203