CVE-2022-48790: nvme: fix a possible use-after-free in controller reset during load

Severity: high (CVSS 7.0 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.8% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2024-07-16 · updated 2026-08-04
Weakness: CWE-416

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvme: fix a possible use-after-free in controller reset during load Unlike .queue_rq, in .submit_async_event drivers may not check the ctrl readiness for AER submission. This may lead to a use-after-free condition that was observed with nvme-tcp. The race condition may happen in the following scenario: 1. driver executes its reset_ctrl_work 2. -> nvme_stop_ctrl - flushes ctrl async_event_work 3. ctrl sends AEN which is received by the host, which in turn schedules AEN handling 4. teardown admin queue (which releases the queue socket) 5. AEN processed, submits another AER, calling the driver to submit 6. driver attempts to send the cmd ==> use-after-free In order to fix that, add ctrl state check to validate the ctrl is actually able to accept the AER submission. This addresses the above race in controller resets because the driver during teardown should: 1. change ctrl state to RESETTING 2. flush async_event_work (as well as other async work elements) So after 1,2, any other AER command will find the ctrl state to be RESETTING and bail out without submitting the AER.

Affected products

Linux kernel: before 4.19.231; from 4.20 before 5.4.181; from 5.5 before 5.10.102; from 5.11 before 5.15.25; from 5.16 before 5.16.11 — fixed in 4.19.231, 5.10.102, 5.15.25, 5.16.11, 5.4.181

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 4.19.231, 5.10.102, 5.15.25, 5.16.11. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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