CVE-2022-49219: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vfio/pci: fix memory leak during D3hot to D0 transition If 'vfio_pci_core_device...

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vfio/pci: fix memory leak during D3hot to D0 transition If 'vfio_pci_core_device::needs_pm_restore' is set (PCI device does not have No_Soft_Reset bit set in its PMCSR config register), then the current PCI state will be saved locally in 'vfio_pci_core_device::pm_save' during D0->D3hot transition and same will be restored back during D3hot->D0 transition. For saving the PCI state locally, pci_store_saved_state() is being used and the pci_load_and_free_saved_state() will free the allocated memory. But for reset related IOCTLs, vfio driver calls PCI reset-related API's which will internally change the PCI power state back to D0. So, when the guest resumes, then it will get the current state as D0 and it will skip the call to vfio_pci_set_power_state() for changing the power state to D0 explicitly. In this case, the memory pointed by 'pm_save' will never be freed. In a malicious sequence, the state changing to D3hot followed by VFIO_DEVICE_RESET/VFIO_DEVICE_PCI_HOT_RESET can be run in a loop and it can cause an OOM situation. This patch frees the earlier allocated memory first before overwriting 'pm_save' to prevent the mentioned memory leak.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

5.5/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS Probability

0.25%

15.9th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-401

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.1, < 5.15.33
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.16, < 5.16.19
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.17, < 5.17.2

References

Timeline

Published: Feb 26, 2025
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2022-49219?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vfio/pci: fix memory leak during D3hot to D0 transition If 'vfio_pci_core_device::needs_pm_restore' is set (PCI device does not have No_Soft_Reset bit set in its PMCSR config register), then the current PCI state will be saved locally in 'vfio_pci_core_device::pm_save' during D0->D3hot transition and same will be restored back during D3hot->D0 transition. For saving the PCI state locally, pci_store_saved_state() is being used and the pci_load_and_free_saved_state() will free the allocated memory. But for reset related IOCTLs, vfio driver calls PCI reset-related API's which will internally change the PCI power state back to D0. So, when the guest resumes, then it will get the current state as D0 and it will skip the call to vfio_pci_set_power_state() for changing the power state to D0 explicitly. In this case, the memory pointed by 'pm_save' will never be freed. In a malicious sequence, the state changing to D3hot followed by VFIO_DEVICE_RESET/VFIO_DEVICE_PCI_HOT_RESET can be run in a loop and it can cause an OOM situation. This patch frees the earlier allocated memory first before overwriting 'pm_save' to prevent the mentioned memory leak.

How severe is CVE-2022-49219?

CVE-2022-49219 has a CVSS score of 5.5/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.25% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2022-49219?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.