CVE-2022-23523
rust-vmm linux-loader vulnerable to Out-of-bounds Read
In versions prior to 0.8.1, the linux-loader crate uses the offsets and sizes provided in the ELF headers to determine the offsets to read from. If those offsets point beyond the end of the file this could lead to Virtual Machine Monitors using the linux-loader crate entering an infinite loop if the ELF header of the kernel they are loading was modified in a malicious manner. This issue has been addressed in 0.8.1. The issue can be mitigated by ensuring that only trusted kernel images are loaded or by verifying that the headers do not point beyond the end of the file.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- Low
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
4.0
rust-vmm linux-loader vulnerable to Out-of-bounds Read
In versions prior to 0.8.1, the linux-loader crate uses the offsets and sizes provided in the ELF headers to determine the offsets to read from. If those offsets point beyond the end of the file this could lead to Virtual Machine Monitors using the linux-loader crate entering an infinite loop if the ELF header of the kernel they are loading was modified in a malicious manner. This issue has been addressed in 0.8.1. The issue can be mitigated by ensuring that only trusted kernel images are loaded or by verifying that the headers do not point beyond the end of the file.
- Record
CVE-2022-23523- CVSS 3.1
- 4.0 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-125, CWE-119
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-7510
4.0
In versions prior to 0.8.1, the linux-loader crate uses the offsets and sizes provided in the ELF headers to determine the offsets to read from. If those offsets point beyond the end of the file this could lead to Virtual Machine Monitors using the linux-loader crate entering an infinite loop if the ELF header of the kernel they are loading was modified in a malicious manner. This issue has been addressed in 0.8.1. The issue can be mitigated by ensuring that only trusted kernel images are loaded or by verifying that the headers do not point beyond the end of the file.
- Record
EUVD-2022-7510- CVSS 3.1
- 4.0 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-52h2-m2cf-9jh6
1.9
linux-loader reading beyond EOF could lead to infinite loop
Impact
The linux-loader crate used the offsets and sizes provided in the ELF headers to determine the offsets to read from. If those offsets pointed beyond the end of the file this could lead to an infinite loop. Virtual Machine Monitors using the linux-loader crate could enter an infinite loop if the ELF header of the kernel they are loading was modified in a malicious manner.
Patches
The issue has been addressed in 0.8.1
Workarounds
The issue can be mitigated by ensuring that only trusted kernel images are loaded or by verifying that the headers to not point beyond the end of the file.
References
- Record
GHSA-52h2-m2cf-9jh6- CVSS 3.1
- 1.9 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-119, CWE-125, CWE-835
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
4.0
In versions prior to 0.8.1, the linux-loader crate uses the offsets and sizes provided in the ELF headers to determine the offsets to read from. If those offsets point beyond the end of the file this could lead to Virtual Machine Monitors using the linux-loader crate entering an infinite loop if the ELF header of the kernel they are loading was modified in a malicious manner. This issue has been addressed in 0.8.1. The issue can be mitigated by ensuring that only trusted kernel images are loaded or by verifying that the headers do not point beyond the end of the file.
- Record
CVE-2022-23523- CVSS 3.1
- 4.0 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - CVSS 3.1
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-119, CWE-125
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
4.0
rust-vmm linux-loader vulnerable to Out-of-bounds Read
In versions prior to 0.8.1, the linux-loader crate uses the offsets and sizes provided in the ELF headers to determine the offsets to read from. If those offsets point beyond the end of the file this could lead to Virtual Machine Monitors using the linux-loader crate entering an infinite loop if the ELF header of the kernel they are loading was modified in a malicious manner. This issue has been addressed in 0.8.1. The issue can be mitigated by ensuring that only trusted kernel images are loaded or by verifying that the headers do not point beyond the end of the file.
- Record
CVE-2022-23523- CVSS 3.1
- 4.0 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-119, CWE-125
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-52h2-m2cf-9jh6
1.9
linux-loader reading beyond EOF could lead to infinite loop
Impact
The linux-loader crate used the offsets and sizes provided in the ELF headers to determine the offsets to read from. If those offsets pointed beyond the end of the file this could lead to an infinite loop. Virtual Machine Monitors using the linux-loader crate could enter an infinite loop if the ELF header of the kernel they are loading was modified in a malicious manner.
Patches
The issue has been addressed in 0.8.1
Workarounds
The issue can be mitigated by ensuring that only trusted kernel images are loaded or by verifying that the headers to not point beyond the end of the file.
References
- Record
GHSA-52h2-m2cf-9jh6- CVSS 3.1
- 1.9 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-119, CWE-125, CWE-835
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
linux-loadercrates.io |
before 0.8.1 | 0.8.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2022-23523 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 4.0) in Linux-loader Project Linux-loader, published December 12, 2022. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.22%, the 12th percentile. Fixed in linux-loader 0.8.1.
References
github.com/rust-vmm/linux-loader/security/advisories/GHSA-52h2-m2cf-9jh6
github.com/rust-vmm/linux-loader/pull/125
github.com/rust-vmm/linux-loader/commit/a44f152da4f38c538ed492b1efa8515be2047db2
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-23523
github.com/advisories/GHSA-52h2-m2cf-9jh6
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2022/23xxx/CVE-2022-23523.json
github.com/rust-vmm/linux-loader