CVE-2022-21499 — kernel: possible to use the debugger to write zero into a location of choice

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MEDIUM

kernel: possible to use the debugger to write zero into a location of choice

Published Jun 9, 2022

6.7

MEDIUM

CVSS 3.1

EPSS 0.62%

Description

KGDB and KDB allow read and write access to kernel memory, and thus should be restricted during lockdown. An attacker with access to a serial port could trigger the debugger so it is important that the debugger respect the lockdown mode when/if it is triggered. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 6.7 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Affected products

Vendor Oracle Corporation Product Oracle Linux Default
n/a
- Version
  Oracle Linux: 6
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  -
- Version
  Oracle Linux: 7
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  -
- Version
  Oracle Linux: 8
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  -
Vendor Oracle Corporation Product Oracle VM Default
n/a
- Version
  Oracle VM: 3
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  -

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor

Product

Default status

Versions

Oracle Corporation

Oracle Linux

n/a

Version	Status	Constraints
Oracle Linux: 6	affected	-
Oracle Linux: 7	affected	-
Oracle Linux: 8	affected	-

Oracle Corporation

Oracle VM

n/a

Version	Status	Constraints
Oracle VM: 3	affected	-

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

kernel-0:4.18.0-425.3.1.el8

Fixed · RHSA-2022:7683
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

kernel-rt-0:4.18.0-425.3.1.rt7.213.el8

Fixed · RHSA-2022:7444
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Extended Update Support

kernel-0:4.18.0-372.91.1.el8_6

Fixed · RHSA-2024:0724
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

kernel-0:5.14.0-162.6.1.el9_1

Fixed · RHSA-2022:8267
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

kernel-0:5.14.0-162.6.1.el9_1

Fixed · RHSA-2022:8267
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

kernel-rt-0:5.14.0-162.6.1.rt21.168.el9_1

Fixed · RHSA-2022:7933
Red Hat Virtualization 4 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

kernel-0:4.18.0-372.91.1.el8_6

Fixed · RHSA-2024:0724
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

kernel

Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7

kernel

Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7

kernel-rt

Out of support scope

Product	Package	State	Advisory
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8	kernel-0:4.18.0-425.3.1.el8	Fixed	RHSA-2022:7683
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8	kernel-rt-0:4.18.0-425.3.1.rt7.213.el8	Fixed	RHSA-2022:7444
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Extended Update Support	kernel-0:4.18.0-372.91.1.el8_6	Fixed	RHSA-2024:0724
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9	kernel-0:5.14.0-162.6.1.el9_1	Fixed	RHSA-2022:8267
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9	kernel-0:5.14.0-162.6.1.el9_1	Fixed	RHSA-2022:8267
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9	kernel-rt-0:5.14.0-162.6.1.rt21.168.el9_1	Fixed	RHSA-2022:7933
Red Hat Virtualization 4 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8	kernel-0:4.18.0-372.91.1.el8_6	Fixed	RHSA-2024:0724
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6	kernel	Not affected	n/a
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7	kernel	Out of support scope	n/a
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7	kernel-rt	Out of support scope	n/a

Remediation

Red Hat mitigation

Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options don't meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base, or stability.

Metrics

0.62% 0.00619

Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.

EPSS probability 0.00619

Score over time

2022–2026

EPSS v2
EPSS v3
EPSS v4
EPSS v5

Percentile over time

EPSS v2
EPSS v3
EPSS v4
EPSS v5

Table of values (14 key points)

Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.

Date	Score	Percentile	Model
Oct 1, 2026	0.62% (0.00619)	47.75th	v5 (v2026.06.15)
Jun 15, 2026	0.62% (0.00617)	44.67th	v5 (v2026.06.15)
Mar 30, 2025	0.09% (0.00087)	22.37th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
Mar 29, 2025	1.57% (0.01574)	69.95th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
Mar 17, 2025	0.09% (0.00087)	22.90th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
Dec 12, 2024	0.04% (0.00045)	17.80th	v3 (v2023.03.01)
May 2, 2024	0.04% (0.00045)	14.43th	v3 (v2023.03.01)
Dec 31, 2023	0.04% (0.00045)	12.39th	v3 (v2023.03.01)
Jul 12, 2023	0.04% (0.00043)	8.00th	v3 (v2023.03.01)
Jun 16, 2023	0.04% (0.00045)	12.57th	v3 (v2023.03.01)
Mar 7, 2023	0.04% (0.00043)	7.81th	v3 (v2023.03.01)
Mar 6, 2023	0.89% (0.00890)	30.33th	v2 (v2022.01.01)
Aug 31, 2022	0.89% (0.00890)	28.51th	v2 (v2022.01.01)
Jun 10, 2022	0.89% (0.00885)	25.10th	v2 (v2022.01.01)

Weaknesses (2)

CWE-267

CWE-787

Out-of-bounds Write

References (8)

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/168191/Kernel-Live-Patch-Security-Notice-LSN-0089-1.html
x_refsource_MISCThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2022-21499
Vendor Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2084183
Issue Tracking
https://git.kernel.org/linus/eadb2f47a3ced5c64b23b90fd2a3463f63726066
x_refsource_MISCMailing ListPatchVendor Advisory
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=eadb2f47a3ced5c64b23b90fd2a3463f63726066
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-21499
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-21499
https://www.debian.org/security/2022/dsa-5161
vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory

Link	Providers	Tags
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/168191/Kernel-Live-Patch-Security-Notice-LSN-0089-1.html		x_refsource_MISCThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2022-21499		Vendor Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2084183		Issue Tracking
https://git.kernel.org/linus/eadb2f47a3ced5c64b23b90fd2a3463f63726066		x_refsource_MISCMailing ListPatchVendor Advisory
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=eadb2f47a3ced5c64b23b90fd2a3463f63726066
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-21499
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-21499
https://www.debian.org/security/2022/dsa-5161		vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory