CVE-2022-50751: configfs: fix possible memory leak in configfs_create_dir()

Published Dec 24, 2025
·
Updated

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

configfs: fix possible memory leak in configfscreatedir()

kmemleak reported memory leaks in configfscreatedir():

unreferenced object 0xffff888009f6af00 (size 192): comm "modprobe", pid 3777, jiffies 4295537735 (age 233.784s) backtrace: kmemcachealloc (mm/slub.c:3250 mm/slub.c:3256 mm/slub.c:3263 mm/slub.c:3273) newfragment (./include/linux/slab.h:600 fs/configfs/dir.c:163) configfsregistersubsystem (fs/configfs/dir.c:1857) basicwrite (drivers/hwtracing/stm/pbasic.c:14) stmpbasic dooneinitcall (init/main.c:1296) doinitmodule (kernel/module/main.c:2455) ...

unreferenced object 0xffff888003ba7180 (size 96): comm "modprobe", pid 3777, jiffies 4295537735 (age 233.784s) backtrace: kmemcachealloc (mm/slub.c:3250 mm/slub.c:3256 mm/slub.c:3263 mm/slub.c:3273) configfsnewdirent (./include/linux/slab.h:723 fs/configfs/dir.c:194) configfsmakedirent (fs/configfs/dir.c:248) configfscreatedir (fs/configfs/dir.c:296) configfsattachgroup.isra.28 (fs/configfs/dir.c:816 fs/configfs/dir.c:852) configfsregistersubsystem (fs/configfs/dir.c:1881) basicwrite (drivers/hwtracing/stm/pbasic.c:14) stmpbasic dooneinitcall (init/main.c:1296) doinitmodule (kernel/module/main.c:2455) ...

This is because the refcount is not correct in configfsmakedirent(). For normal stage, the refcount is changing as:

configfsregistersubsystem() configfscreatedir() configfsmakedirent() configfsnewdirent() # set scount = 1 dentry->dfsdata = configfsget(sd); # scount = 2 ... configfsunregistersubsystem() configfsremovedir() removedir() configfsremovedirent() # scount = 1 dput() ... dentryunlinkinode() configfsdiput() # scount = 0, release

However, if we failed in configfscreate():

configfsregistersubsystem() configfscreatedir() configfsmakedirent() # scount = 2 ... configfscreate() # fail ->outremove: configfsremovedirent(dentry) configfsput(sd) # scount = 1 return PTRERR(inode);

There is no inode in the error path, so the configfsdiput() is lost and makes sd and fragment memory leaked.

To fix this, when we failed in configfscreate(), manually call configfsput(sd) to keep the refcount correct.

Affected Software

179 affected componentsFixes available
linux-kernel
debian/linux<6.1.4-1
6.1.4-1
debian/linux<6.1.4-1
6.1.4-1
debian/linux<6.1.4-1
6.1.4-1
linux/kernel>=2.6.16<5.4.229
5.4.229
linux/kernel>=5.5.0<5.10.163
5.10.163
linux/kernel>=5.11.0<5.15.86
5.15.86
linux/kernel>=5.16.0<6.0.16
6.0.16
linux/kernel>=6.1.0<6.1.2
6.1.2
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial*
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-kvm*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4<5.4.0-1097.105~18.04.1
5.4.0-1097.105~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4<5.4.0-1104.110~18.04.1
5.4.0-1104.110~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4<5.4.0-1101.110~18.04.1
5.4.0-1101.110~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4<5.4.0-144.161~18.04.1
5.4.0-144.161~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4<5.4.0-1045.50~18.04.1
5.4.0-1045.50~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4<5.4.0-1094.103~18.04.1
5.4.0-1094.103~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4<5.4.0-1081.92~18.04.1
5.4.0-1081.92~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-4.15*
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-kvm*
ubuntu/linux-oem*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux<5.4.0-144.161
5.4.0-144.161
ubuntu/linux-aws<5.4.0-1097.105
5.4.0-1097.105
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15<5.15.0-1033.37~20.04.1
5.15.0-1033.37~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<5.4.0-1104.110
5.4.0-1104.110
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15<5.15.0-1035.42~20.04.1
5.15.0-1035.42~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.4.0-1059.65
5.4.0-1059.65
ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.4.0-1101.110
5.4.0-1101.110
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15<5.15.0-1031.38~20.04.1
5.15.0-1031.38~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-69.76~20.04.1
5.15.0-69.76~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.4.0-1045.50
5.4.0-1045.50
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15<5.15.0-1027.32~20.04.1
5.15.0-1027.32~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-iot<5.4.0-1013.15
5.4.0-1013.15
ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.4.0-1087.93
5.4.0-1087.93
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-69.76~20.04.1
5.15.0-69.76~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15<5.15.0-1014.14~20.04.1
5.15.0-1014.14~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.4.0-1094.103
5.4.0-1094.103
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15<5.15.0-1032.38~20.04.1
5.15.0-1032.38~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.4.0-1081.92
5.4.0-1081.92
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15<5.15.0-1030.34~20.04.1
5.15.0-1030.34~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp<5.4.0-1022.26
5.4.0-1022.26
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<5.4.0-1099.107+fips1
5.4.0-1099.107+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.4.0-1104.110+fips1
5.4.0-1104.110+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips<5.4.0-1073.82
5.4.0-1073.82
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.4.0-1101.110+fips1
5.4.0-1101.110+fips1
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux<5.15.0-69.76
5.15.0-69.76
ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws<5.15.0-1033.37
5.15.0-1033.37
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure<5.15.0-1035.42
5.15.0-1035.42
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<5.15.0-1035.42.1
5.15.0-1035.42.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.15.0-1031.38
5.15.0-1031.38
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-gke<5.15.0-1030.35
5.15.0-1030.35
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<5.15.0-1017.22
5.15.0-1017.22
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.15.0-1027.30
5.15.0-1027.30
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg<5.15.0-1027.32
5.15.0-1027.32
ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.15.0-1030.35
5.15.0-1030.35
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<5.15.0-69.76
5.15.0-69.76
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia<5.15.0-1023.23
5.15.0-1023.23
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<5.15.0-1032.38
5.15.0-1032.38
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.15.0-1026.28
5.15.0-1026.28
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-bluefield<5.15.0-1015.17
5.15.0-1015.17
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime<5.15.0-1023.28
5.15.0-1023.28
ubuntu/linux-realtime<5.15.0-1034.37
5.15.0-1034.37
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-vmware*
debian/linux
6.1.176-16.1.190-16.12.107-16.12.116-17.2.15-17.3.4-1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.1.4-1
  2. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.229
  3. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.10.163
  4. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.86
  5. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.0.16
  6. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.1.2
  7. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1097.105~18.04.1
  8. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1104.110~18.04.1
  9. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1101.110~18.04.1
  10. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-144.161~18.04.1
  11. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1045.50~18.04.1
  12. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1094.103~18.04.1
  13. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1081.92~18.04.1
  14. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-144.161
  15. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1097.105
  16. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1033.37~20.04.1
  17. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1104.110
  18. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1035.42~20.04.1
  19. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1059.65
  20. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1101.110
  21. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1031.38~20.04.1
  22. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-69.76~20.04.1
  23. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1045.50
  24. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1027.32~20.04.1
  25. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1013.15
  26. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1087.93
  27. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-69.76~20.04.1
  28. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1014.14~20.04.1
  29. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1094.103
  30. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1032.38~20.04.1
  31. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1081.92
  32. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1030.34~20.04.1
  33. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1022.26
  34. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1099.107+fips1
  35. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1104.110+fips1
  36. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1073.82
  37. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1101.110+fips1
  38. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-69.76
  39. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1033.37
  40. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1035.42
  41. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1035.42.1
  42. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1031.38
  43. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1030.35
  44. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1017.22
  45. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1027.30
  46. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1027.32
  47. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1030.35
  48. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-69.76
  49. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1023.23
  50. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1032.38
  51. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1026.28
  52. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1015.17
  53. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1023.28
  54. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1034.37
  55. 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 6.12.116-1Fixed in 7.2.15-1Fixed in 7.3.4-1
  56. Compensating control

    In the configfs_create() failure path, manually call configfs_put(sd) to keep the reference count correct and prevent sd and fragment memory leaks.

Event History

Dec 24, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·01:05 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·01:05 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via OSV·01:05 PM
DescriptionAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·01:16 PM
Description
Nov 11, 2026
Data Sourced
via OSV·09:37 AM
Severity

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2022-50751?

CVE-2022-50751 is classified as a medium-severity vulnerability due to its potential to cause memory leaks.

2

What software is affected by CVE-2022-50751?

CVE-2022-50751 affects the Linux kernel specifically in the configfs functionality.

3

How do I fix CVE-2022-50751?

To mitigate CVE-2022-50751, upgrade to the latest version of the Linux kernel where this vulnerability has been resolved.

4

What are the implications of CVE-2022-50751?

CVE-2022-50751 can lead to performance issues and resource exhaustion due to memory leaks in the kernel.

5

When was CVE-2022-50751 disclosed?

CVE-2022-50751 was disclosed as part of a security update for the Linux kernel.

Company

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