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CVE-2022-49264 (GCVE-0-2022-49264)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2025-02-26 01:56 – Updated: 2026-08-05 08:54
VLAI
Title
exec: Force single empty string when argv is empty
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: exec: Force single empty string when argv is empty Quoting[1] Ariadne Conill: "In several other operating systems, it is a hard requirement that the second argument to execve(2) be the name of a program, thus prohibiting a scenario where argc < 1. POSIX 2017 also recommends this behaviour, but it is not an explicit requirement[2]: The argument arg0 should point to a filename string that is associated with the process being started by one of the exec functions. ... Interestingly, Michael Kerrisk opened an issue about this in 2008[3], but there was no consensus to support fixing this issue then. Hopefully now that CVE-2021-4034 shows practical exploitative use[4] of this bug in a shellcode, we can reconsider. This issue is being tracked in the KSPP issue tracker[5]." While the initial code searches[6][7] turned up what appeared to be mostly corner case tests, trying to that just reject argv == NULL (or an immediately terminated pointer list) quickly started tripping[8] existing userspace programs. The next best approach is forcing a single empty string into argv and adjusting argc to match. The number of programs depending on argc == 0 seems a smaller set than those calling execve with a NULL argv. Account for the additional stack space in bprm_stack_limits(). Inject an empty string when argc == 0 (and set argc = 1). Warn about the case so userspace has some notice about the change: process './argc0' launched './argc0' with NULL argv: empty string added Additionally WARN() and reject NULL argv usage for kernel threads. [1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220127000724.15106-1-ariadne@dereferenced.org/ [2] https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/functions/exec.html [3] https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=8408 [4] https://www.qualys.com/2022/01/25/cve-2021-4034/pwnkit.txt [5] https://github.com/KSPP/linux/issues/176 [6] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execve%5C+*%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C+*NULL&literal=0 [7] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execlp%3F%5Cs*%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C%5Cs*NULL&literal=0 [8] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220131144352.GE16385@xsang-OptiPlex-9020/
Severity
7.8 (High)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
Linux Linux Affected: 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 , < 41f6ea5b9aaa28b740d47ffe995a5013211fdbb0 (git)
Affected: 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 , < 98e0c7c702894987732776736c99b85ade6fba45 (git)
Affected: 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 , < b50fb8dbc8b81aaa126387de428f4c42a7c72a73 (git)
Affected: 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 , < 1fe82bfd9e4ce93399d815ca458b58505191c3e8 (git)
Affected: 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 , < 27a6f495b63a1804cc71be45911065db7757a98c (git)
Affected: 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 , < 1290eb4412aa0f0e9f3434b406dc8e255da85f9e (git)
Affected: 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 , < a8054d3fa5deb84b215d6be1b910a978f3cb840d (git)
Affected: 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 , < cfbfff8ce5e3d674947581f1eb9af0a1b1807950 (git)
Affected: 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 , < dcd46d897adb70d63e025f175a00a89797d31a43 (git)
guessed Create a notification for this product.
Linux Linux Affected: 2.6.12
Unaffected: 0 , < 2.6.12 (semver)
Unaffected: 4.9.317 , ≤ 4.9.* (semver)
Unaffected: 4.14.282 , ≤ 4.14.* (semver)
Unaffected: 4.19.246 , ≤ 4.19.* (semver)
Unaffected: 5.4.197 , ≤ 5.4.* (semver)
Unaffected: 5.10.110 , ≤ 5.10.* (semver)
Unaffected: 5.15.33 , ≤ 5.15.* (semver)
Unaffected: 5.16.19 , ≤ 5.16.* (semver)
Unaffected: 5.17.2 , ≤ 5.17.* (semver)
Unaffected: 5.18 , ≤ * (original_commit_for_fix)
guessed Create a notification for this product.
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          "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nexec: Force single empty string when argv is empty\n\nQuoting[1] Ariadne Conill:\n\n\"In several other operating systems, it is a hard requirement that the\nsecond argument to execve(2) be the name of a program, thus prohibiting\na scenario where argc \u003c 1. POSIX 2017 also recommends this behaviour,\nbut it is not an explicit requirement[2]:\n\n    The argument arg0 should point to a filename string that is\n    associated with the process being started by one of the exec\n    functions.\n...\nInterestingly, Michael Kerrisk opened an issue about this in 2008[3],\nbut there was no consensus to support fixing this issue then.\nHopefully now that CVE-2021-4034 shows practical exploitative use[4]\nof this bug in a shellcode, we can reconsider.\n\nThis issue is being tracked in the KSPP issue tracker[5].\"\n\nWhile the initial code searches[6][7] turned up what appeared to be\nmostly corner case tests, trying to that just reject argv == NULL\n(or an immediately terminated pointer list) quickly started tripping[8]\nexisting userspace programs.\n\nThe next best approach is forcing a single empty string into argv and\nadjusting argc to match. The number of programs depending on argc == 0\nseems a smaller set than those calling execve with a NULL argv.\n\nAccount for the additional stack space in bprm_stack_limits(). Inject an\nempty string when argc == 0 (and set argc = 1). Warn about the case so\nuserspace has some notice about the change:\n\n    process \u0027./argc0\u0027 launched \u0027./argc0\u0027 with NULL argv: empty string added\n\nAdditionally WARN() and reject NULL argv usage for kernel threads.\n\n[1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220127000724.15106-1-ariadne@dereferenced.org/\n[2] https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/functions/exec.html\n[3] https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=8408\n[4] https://www.qualys.com/2022/01/25/cve-2021-4034/pwnkit.txt\n[5] https://github.com/KSPP/linux/issues/176\n[6] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execve%5C+*%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C+*NULL\u0026literal=0\n[7] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execlp%3F%5Cs*%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C%5Cs*NULL\u0026literal=0\n[8] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220131144352.GE16385@xsang-OptiPlex-9020/"
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        "cveTags": [],
        "descriptions": [
          {
            "lang": "en",
            "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nexec: Force single empty string when argv is empty\n\nQuoting[1] Ariadne Conill:\n\n\"In several other operating systems, it is a hard requirement that the\nsecond argument to execve(2) be the name of a program, thus prohibiting\na scenario where argc \u003c 1. POSIX 2017 also recommends this behaviour,\nbut it is not an explicit requirement[2]:\n\n    The argument arg0 should point to a filename string that is\n    associated with the process being started by one of the exec\n    functions.\n...\nInterestingly, Michael Kerrisk opened an issue about this in 2008[3],\nbut there was no consensus to support fixing this issue then.\nHopefully now that CVE-2021-4034 shows practical exploitative use[4]\nof this bug in a shellcode, we can reconsider.\n\nThis issue is being tracked in the KSPP issue tracker[5].\"\n\nWhile the initial code searches[6][7] turned up what appeared to be\nmostly corner case tests, trying to that just reject argv == NULL\n(or an immediately terminated pointer list) quickly started tripping[8]\nexisting userspace programs.\n\nThe next best approach is forcing a single empty string into argv and\nadjusting argc to match. The number of programs depending on argc == 0\nseems a smaller set than those calling execve with a NULL argv.\n\nAccount for the additional stack space in bprm_stack_limits(). Inject an\nempty string when argc == 0 (and set argc = 1). Warn about the case so\nuserspace has some notice about the change:\n\n    process \u0027./argc0\u0027 launched \u0027./argc0\u0027 with NULL argv: empty string added\n\nAdditionally WARN() and reject NULL argv usage for kernel threads.\n\n[1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220127000724.15106-1-ariadne@dereferenced.org/\n[2] https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/functions/exec.html\n[3] https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=8408\n[4] https://www.qualys.com/2022/01/25/cve-2021-4034/pwnkit.txt\n[5] https://github.com/KSPP/linux/issues/176\n[6] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execve%5C+*%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C+*NULL\u0026literal=0\n[7] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execlp%3F%5Cs*%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C%5Cs*NULL\u0026literal=0\n[8] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220131144352.GE16385@xsang-OptiPlex-9020/"
          },
          {
            "lang": "es",
            "value": "En el kernel de Linux, se ha resuelto la siguiente vulnerabilidad: exec: Forzar una sola cadena vac\u00eda cuando argv est\u00e1 vac\u00edo Citando[1] a Ariadne Conill: \"En varios otros sistemas operativos, es un requisito estricto que el segundo argumento de execve(2) sea el nombre de un programa, lo que proh\u00edbe un escenario donde argc \u0026lt; 1. POSIX 2017 tambi\u00e9n recomienda este comportamiento, pero no es un requisito expl\u00edcito[2]: el argumento arg0 debe apuntar a una cadena de nombre de archivo que est\u00e9 asociada con el proceso que inicia una de las funciones exec. ... Curiosamente, Michael Kerrisk abri\u00f3 un problema sobre esto en 2008[3], pero no hubo consenso para apoyar la soluci\u00f3n de este problema en ese momento. Con suerte, ahora que CVE-2021-4034 muestra un uso explotador pr\u00e1ctico[4] de este error en un shellcode, podemos reconsiderarlo. Este problema se est\u00e1 rastreando en el rastreador de problemas de KSPP[5]\". Si bien las b\u00fasquedas de c\u00f3digo iniciales[6][7] dieron como resultado lo que parec\u00edan ser principalmente pruebas de casos extremos, intentar simplemente rechazar argv == NULL (o una lista de punteros terminada inmediatamente) r\u00e1pidamente comenz\u00f3 a hacer tropezar[8] a los programas de espacio de usuario existentes. El siguiente mejor enfoque es forzar una sola cadena vac\u00eda en argv y ajustar argc para que coincida. La cantidad de programas que dependen de argc == 0 parece un conjunto m\u00e1s peque\u00f1o que los que llaman a execve con un argv NULL. Tenga en cuenta el espacio de pila adicional en bprm_stack_limits(). Inyecte una cadena vac\u00eda cuando argc == 0 (y establezca argc = 1). Advertir sobre el caso para que el espacio de usuario tenga alg\u00fan aviso sobre el cambio: proceso \u0027./argc0\u0027 lanzado \u0027./argc0\u0027 con argv NULL: cadena vac\u00eda agregada Adem\u00e1s, WARN() y rechace el uso de argv NULL para subprocesos del kernel. [1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220127000724.15106-1-ariadne@dereferenced.org/ [2] https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/functions/exec.html [3] https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=8408 [4] https://www.qualys.com/2022/01/25/cve-2021-4034/pwnkit.txt [5] https://github.com/KSPP/linux/issues/176 [6] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execve%5C+*%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C+*NULL\u0026amp;literal=0 [7] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execlp%3F%5Cs*%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C%5Cs*NULL\u0026amp;literal=0 [8] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220131144352.GE16385@xsang-OptiPlex-9020/"
          }
        ],
        "id": "CVE-2022-49264",
        "lastModified": "2026-08-04T10:17:41.890",
        "metrics": {
          "cvssMetricV31": [
            {
              "cvssData": {
                "attackComplexity": "LOW",
                "attackVector": "LOCAL",
                "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
                "baseScore": 7.8,
                "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
                "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
                "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
                "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
                "scope": "UNCHANGED",
                "userInteraction": "NONE",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
                "version": "3.1"
              },
              "exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
              "impactScore": 5.9,
              "source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
              "type": "Secondary"
            },
            {
              "cvssData": {
                "attackComplexity": "LOW",
                "attackVector": "LOCAL",
                "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
                "baseScore": 5.5,
                "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
                "confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
                "integrityImpact": "NONE",
                "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
                "scope": "UNCHANGED",
                "userInteraction": "NONE",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
                "version": "3.1"
              },
              "exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
              "impactScore": 3.6,
              "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
              "type": "Primary"
            }
          ]
        },
        "published": "2025-02-26T07:01:03.337",
        "references": [
          {
            "source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
            "tags": [
              "Patch"
            ],
            "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1290eb4412aa0f0e9f3434b406dc8e255da85f9e"
          },
          {
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            "tags": [
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          },
          {
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            "tags": [
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            "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/27a6f495b63a1804cc71be45911065db7757a98c"
          },
          {
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            "tags": [
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            "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41f6ea5b9aaa28b740d47ffe995a5013211fdbb0"
          },
          {
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            "tags": [
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            "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/98e0c7c702894987732776736c99b85ade6fba45"
          },
          {
            "source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
            "tags": [
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            "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8054d3fa5deb84b215d6be1b910a978f3cb840d"
          },
          {
            "source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
            "tags": [
              "Patch"
            ],
            "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b50fb8dbc8b81aaa126387de428f4c42a7c72a73"
          },
          {
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            "tags": [
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            "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cfbfff8ce5e3d674947581f1eb9af0a1b1807950"
          },
          {
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            "tags": [
              "Patch"
            ],
            "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dcd46d897adb70d63e025f175a00a89797d31a43"
          }
        ],
        "sourceIdentifier": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
        "vulnStatus": "Modified",
        "weaknesses": [
          {
            "description": [
              {
                "lang": "en",
                "value": "CWE-476"
              }
            ],
            "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
            "type": "Primary"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2026-08-04T19:43:17+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2022-49264",
      "id": "CVE-2022-49264",
      "initial_release_date": "2022-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:fixed": "166",
      "product_status:known_affected": "112",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "76",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "kernel: exec: Force single empty string when argv is empty",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2022/cve-2022-49264.json",
      "version": "3"
    },
    "suse_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2026-09-05T00:56:48Z",
      "cve": "CVE-2022-49264",
      "id": "CVE-2022-49264",
      "initial_release_date": "2025-02-27T03:09:45Z",
      "product_status:known_affected": "334",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "313",
      "product_status:recommended": "367",
      "source": "SUSE CSAF VEX",
      "status": "interim",
      "title": "SUSE CVE CVE-2022-49264",
      "url": "https://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/security/csaf-vex/cve-2022-49264.json",
      "version": "51"
    }
  }
}



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Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

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Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.


Related by attack behaviour

Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.