CVE-2022-2959

What it actually does

Missing lock in pipe_resize_ring() creates a race condition in pipe buffer handling within the watch queue, enabling local privilege escalation or system crash.

Why it matters to the business

Local attackers on Linux systems can disrupt operations through crashes or gain elevated access, increasing risk to system integrity and availability; low urgency due to absence from known exploited lists and stable low exploit probability.

How an attack unfolds

A local attacker triggers the race condition by performing concurrent operations on pipe buffers to bypass locking and either escalate privileges or cause a denial of service; no named threat actors are associated with active exploitation.

How to fix it

Upgrade the Linux kernel to include commit 189b0ddc245139af81198d1a3637cac74f96e13a or later; apply the fix across all affected distributions and verify the updated kernel is running.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm the running kernel contains commit 189b0ddc245139af81198d1a3637cac74f96e13a; test for absence of the race condition using targeted local stress tests on pipe operations.

Typical attack path

1. Gain local user access on an affected Linux system
2. Identify or create conditions involving pipe buffer resizing in the watch queue
3. Execute concurrent operations to win the race condition
4. Escalate privileges or trigger a kernel crash

How to detect it

Search kernel logs and audit trails for crashes or anomalies tied to pipe buffer operations and watch queue handling; no widespread exploitation indicators are known.

What your security team should do

• Prioritize kernel updates on all Linux hosts to the fixed commit
• Restrict local user access and monitor for suspicious pipe-related activity
• Review and harden systems against local privilege escalation vectors