---
id: CVE-2022-2153
title: A flaw was found in the Linux kernel’s KVM when attempting to set a SynIC IRQ
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel’s KVM when attempting to set a SynIC IRQ.
  This issue makes it possible for a misbehaving VMM to write to SYNIC/STIMER
  MSRs, causing a NULL pointer dereference. This flaw allows an unprivileged
  local a…
severity: medium
cvss: 5.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-476
  - CWE-476
vendor: linux
product: linux_kernel
affected:
  - linux_kernel < 5.18
  - fedora = 36
  - enterprise_linux = 6.0
  - enterprise_linux = 7.0
  - enterprise_linux = 8.0
  - enterprise_linux = 9.0
  - debian_linux = 10.0
patched:
  - linux_kernel 5.18
published: '2022-08-31'
updated: '2026-10-14'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-14T13:17:20.760'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-2153'
references:
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2069736'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/00b5f37189d24ac3ed46cb7f11742094778c46ce
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/7ec37d1cbe17d8189d9562178d8b29167fe1c31a
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/b1e34d325397a33d97d845e312d7cf2a8b646b44
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/10/msg00000.html'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/11/msg00001.html'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: 'https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/06/22/1'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2069736'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/00b5f37189d24ac3ed46cb7f11742094778c46ce
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/7ec37d1cbe17d8189d9562178d8b29167fe1c31a
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/b1e34d325397a33d97d845e312d7cf2a8b646b44
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/10/msg00000.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/11/msg00001.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/06/22/1'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-794697.html'
    label: 0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e
tags:
  - nvd
epss: 0.00466
epssPercentile: 0.38607
ingestedAt: '2026-10-14T13:30:58.418Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel’s KVM when attempting to set a SynIC IRQ. This issue makes it possible for a misbehaving VMM to write to SYNIC/STIMER MSRs, causing a NULL pointer dereference. This flaw allows an unprivileged local attacker on the host to issue specific ioctl calls, causing a kernel oops condition that results in a denial of service.

## Affected

- `linux_kernel < 5.18`
- `fedora = 36`
- `enterprise_linux = 6.0`
- `enterprise_linux = 7.0`
- `enterprise_linux = 8.0`
- `enterprise_linux = 9.0`
- `debian_linux = 10.0`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `linux_kernel 5.18`