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

capabilities: fix potential memleak on error path from vfs_getxattr_alloc()

In cap_inode_getsecurity(), we will use vfs_getxattr_alloc() to
complete the memory allocation of tmpbuf, if we have completed
the memory allocation of tmpbuf, but failed to call handler->get(...),
there will be a memleak in below logic:

|-- ret = (int)vfs_getxattr_alloc(mnt_userns, ...)
| /* ^^^ alloc for tmpbuf */
|-- value = krealloc(*xattr_value, error + 1, flags)
| /* ^^^ alloc memory */
|-- error = handler->get(handler, ...)
| /* error! */
|-- *xattr_value = value
| /* xattr_value is &tmpbuf (memory leak!) */

So we will try to free(tmpbuf) after vfs_getxattr_alloc() fails to fix it.

[PM: subject line and backtrace tweaks]
Published: 2025-05-01
Score: 5.5 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2025-12880 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: capabilities: fix potential memleak on error path from vfs_getxattr_alloc() In cap_inode_getsecurity(), we will use vfs_getxattr_alloc() to complete the memory allocation of tmpbuf, if we have completed the memory allocation of tmpbuf, but failed to call handler->get(...), there will be a memleak in below logic: |-- ret = (int)vfs_getxattr_alloc(mnt_userns, ...) | /* ^^^ alloc for tmpbuf */ |-- value = krealloc(*xattr_value, error + 1, flags) | /* ^^^ alloc memory */ |-- error = handler->get(handler, ...) | /* error! */ |-- *xattr_value = value | /* xattr_value is &tmpbuf (memory leak!) */ So we will try to free(tmpbuf) after vfs_getxattr_alloc() fails to fix it. [PM: subject line and backtrace tweaks]
History

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 16:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Wed, 07 May 2025 13:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Weaknesses CWE-401
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel

Fri, 02 May 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate


Thu, 01 May 2025 14:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: capabilities: fix potential memleak on error path from vfs_getxattr_alloc() In cap_inode_getsecurity(), we will use vfs_getxattr_alloc() to complete the memory allocation of tmpbuf, if we have completed the memory allocation of tmpbuf, but failed to call handler->get(...), there will be a memleak in below logic: |-- ret = (int)vfs_getxattr_alloc(mnt_userns, ...) | /* ^^^ alloc for tmpbuf */ |-- value = krealloc(*xattr_value, error + 1, flags) | /* ^^^ alloc memory */ |-- error = handler->get(handler, ...) | /* error! */ |-- *xattr_value = value | /* xattr_value is &tmpbuf (memory leak!) */ So we will try to free(tmpbuf) after vfs_getxattr_alloc() fails to fix it. [PM: subject line and backtrace tweaks]
Title capabilities: fix potential memleak on error path from vfs_getxattr_alloc()
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-05-11T19:08:43.268Z

Reserved: 2025-05-01T14:05:17.242Z

Link: CVE-2022-49890

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2025-10-01T14:23:35.237Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Modified

Published: 2025-05-01T15:16:14.000

Modified: 2025-10-01T17:15:37.153

Link: CVE-2022-49890

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2025-05-01T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2022-49890 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses