CVE-2022-50486: net: ethernet: ti: Fix return type of netcp_ndo_start_xmit()

Published Oct 4, 2025
·
Updated

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

net: ethernet: ti: Fix return type of netcpndostartxmit()

With clang's kernel control flow integrity (kCFI, CONFIGCFICLANG), indirect call targets are validated against the expected function pointer prototype to make sure the call target is valid to help mitigate ROP attacks. If they are not identical, there is a failure at run time, which manifests as either a kernel panic or thread getting killed. A proposed warning in clang aims to catch these at compile time, which reveals:

drivers/net/ethernet/ti/netcpcore.c:1944:21: error: incompatible function pointer types initializing 'netdevtxt ()(struct skbuff , struct netdevice )' (aka 'enum netdevtx ()(struct skbuff , struct netdevice )') with an expression of type 'int (struct skbuff , struct netdevice )' [-Werror,-Wincompatible-function-pointer-types-strict] .ndostartxmit = netcpndostartxmit, ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1 error generated.

->ndostartxmit() in 'struct netdeviceops' expects a return type of 'netdevtxt', not 'int'. Adjust the return type of netcpndostartxmit() to match the prototype's to resolve the warning and CFI failure.

Affected Software

9 affected components
Linux Linux kernel
Linux Linux kernel>=4.0<4.9.337
Linux Linux kernel>=4.10<4.14.303
Linux Linux kernel>=4.15<4.19.270
Linux Linux kernel>=4.20<5.4.229
Linux Linux kernel>=5.5<5.10.163
Linux Linux kernel>=5.11<5.15.86
Linux Linux kernel>=5.16<6.0.16
Linux Linux kernel>=6.1<6.1.2

Event History

Oct 4, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:16 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:16 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·04:15 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2022-50486?

CVE-2022-50486 is considered a low severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2022-50486?

To fix CVE-2022-50486, upgrade to a patched version of the Linux kernel that resolves the vulnerability.

3

Which versions of the Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2022-50486?

CVE-2022-50486 affects specific versions of the Linux kernel prior to the security patch.

4

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2022-50486?

CVE-2022-50486 is related to the return type in the netcp_ndo_start_xmit function within the Linux kernel.

5

Is there any exploit available for CVE-2022-50486?

As of now, there is no publicly known exploit specifically targeting CVE-2022-50486.

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