CVE-2022-50698: 
Linux Kernel vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2022-50698 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ASoC (Audio System on Chip) subsystem, specifically in the DA7219 audio codec driver. The flaw exists in the da7219_register_dai_clks() function, where improper error handling causes a clock resource to be incorrectly unregistered when clk_hw_register() fails, potentially leading to a use-after-free or double-free condition. It affects Linux kernel versions from the introduction of the vulnerable code (commit 78013a1cf297) up to the patched stable releases: 5.10.150, 5.15.75, 5.19.17, 6.0.3, and 6.1. The CVE was published on December 24, 2025, and NVD has not yet assigned a CVSS score due to the record not being prioritized for enrichment (NVD).

The root cause is improper error handling (related to CWE-459: Incomplete Cleanup) in the da7219_register_dai_clks() function within the Linux kernel's ASoC DA7219 driver. When clk_hw_register() fails partway through a loop registering multiple clock hardware instances, the error unwind path incorrectly attempts to unregister a clock that was never successfully registered, while also failing to properly clean up previously registered clocks. The fix involves adding a clk_hw_unregister() call for the failed iteration and replacing the unwind logic with a while (--i >= 0) loop to correctly clean up only the successfully registered clocks (NVD). This is a local, kernel-level issue triggered during device initialization when the DA7219 audio codec is present and clock registration encounters an error.

The vulnerability could result in memory corruption due to improper resource cleanup — specifically, attempting to unregister a clock object that was never successfully registered. This may lead to kernel instability, system crashes (denial of service), or potentially exploitable memory corruption conditions depending on kernel configuration and timing. The impact is limited to systems with the DA7219 audio codec hardware and is triggered during driver initialization failure scenarios (NVD).

There is no known public exploit code, proof-of-concept, or evidence of in-the-wild exploitation for CVE-2022-50698. The EPSS score is extremely low at approximately 0.018%, reflecting minimal exploitation probability (Feedly). The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Exploitation would require local access to a system with the DA7219 codec and the ability to trigger driver initialization failure, making it a low-priority security concern in practice.

The fix has been backported to multiple stable Linux kernel branches. Users should upgrade to the following patched versions or later: Linux 5.10.150, 5.15.75, 5.19.17, 6.0.3, or 6.1 (NVD). The specific fix commits are available at the kernel stable repository. SUSE has also issued kernel security updates addressing this CVE, as reflected in advisories SUSE-2026:0263-1 and SUSE-2026:0317-1. Users on affected distributions should apply vendor-provided kernel updates through their standard package management systems.

The vulnerability has received minimal public attention, consistent with its low severity and limited exploitability. SUSE Linux has incorporated the fix into their kernel security update advisories. No notable researcher commentary, social media discussion, or media coverage has been identified for this CVE.