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OpenAdvisories
High · 7.8 CVE-2022-49264 EUVD-2022-54962GHSA-w8vv-x828-gjpf

exec: Force single empty string when argv is empty

Published Feb 26, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026 · Assigned by Linux

Vendor: Linux Product: Linux Package: linux Package: linux Package: linux-allwinner-5.19 Package: linux-aws Package: linux-aws-5.0 Package: linux-aws-5.11 Package: linux-aws-5.13 Package: linux-aws-5.19 Package: linux-aws-5.3 Package: linux-aws-5.4 Package: linux-aws-5.8 Package: linux-aws-6.2 Package: linux-aws-6.5 Package: linux-aws-fips Package: linux-aws-hwe Package: linux-azure Package: linux-azure-4.15 Package: linux-azure-5.11 Package: linux-azure-5.13 Package: linux-azure-5.15 Package: linux-azure-5.19 Package: linux-azure-5.3 Package: linux-azure-5.4 Package: linux-azure-5.8 Package: linux-azure-6.2 Package: linux-azure-6.5 Package: linux-azure-edge Package: linux-azure-fde Package: linux-azure-fde-5.19 Package: linux-azure-fde-6.2 Package: linux-azure-fips Package: linux-bluefield Package: linux-fips Package: linux-gcp Package: linux-gcp-4.15 Package: linux-gcp-5.11 Package: linux-gcp-5.13 Package: linux-gcp-5.19 Package: linux-gcp-5.3 Package: linux-gcp-5.4 Package: linux-gcp-5.8 Package: linux-gcp-6.2 Package: linux-gcp-6.5 Package: linux-gcp-fips Package: linux-gke Package: linux-gke-4.15 Package: linux-gke-5.15 Package: linux-gke-5.4 Package: linux-gkeop Package: linux-gkeop-5.15 Package: linux-gkeop-5.4 Package: linux-hwe Package: linux-hwe-5.11 Package: linux-hwe-5.13 Package: linux-hwe-5.15 Package: linux-hwe-5.19 Package: linux-hwe-5.4 Package: linux-hwe-5.8 Package: linux-hwe-6.2 Package: linux-hwe-6.5 Package: linux-hwe-edge Package: linux-ibm Package: linux-ibm-5.4 Package: linux-intel-5.13 Package: linux-intel-iot-realtime Package: linux-intel-iotg Package: linux-intel-iotg-5.15 Package: linux-iot Package: linux-kvm Package: linux-lowlatency Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 Package: linux-lts-xenial Package: linux-nvidia-6.2 Package: linux-nvidia-6.5 Package: linux-oem Package: linux-oem-5.10 Package: linux-oem-5.13 Package: linux-oem-5.14 Package: linux-oem-5.17 Package: linux-oem-5.6 Package: linux-oem-6.0 Package: linux-oem-6.1 Package: linux-oem-6.5 Package: linux-oracle Package: linux-oracle-5.0 Package: linux-oracle-5.11 Package: linux-oracle-5.13 Package: linux-oracle-5.3 Package: linux-oracle-5.4 Package: linux-oracle-5.8 Package: linux-oracle-6.5 Package: linux-raspi Package: linux-raspi-5.4 Package: linux-raspi-realtime Package: linux-raspi2 Package: linux-realtime Package: linux-riscv Package: linux-riscv-5.11 Package: linux-riscv-5.19 Package: linux-riscv-5.8 Package: linux-riscv-6.5 Package: linux-starfive-5.19 Package: linux-starfive-6.2 Package: linux-starfive-6.5 Package: linux-vmware Platform: Linux Ecosystem: Debian Ecosystem: Ubuntu

Description

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

exec: Force single empty string when argv is empty

Quoting[1] Ariadne Conill:

"In several other operating systems, it is a hard requirement that the
second argument to execve(2) be the name of a program, thus prohibiting
a scenario where argc < 1. POSIX 2017 also recommends this behaviour,
but it is not an explicit requirement[2]:

The argument arg0 should point to a filename string that is
associated with the process being started by one of the exec
functions.
...
Interestingly, Michael Kerrisk opened an issue about this in 2008[3],
but there was no consensus to support fixing this issue then.
Hopefully now that CVE-2021-4034 shows practical exploitative use[4]
of this bug in a shellcode, we can reconsider.

This issue is being tracked in the KSPP issue tracker[5]."

While the initial code searches[6][7] turned up what appeared to be
mostly corner case tests, trying to that just reject argv == NULL
(or an immediately terminated pointer list) quickly started tripping[8]
existing userspace programs.

The next best approach is forcing a single empty string into argv and
adjusting argc to match. The number of programs depending on argc == 0
seems a smaller set than those calling execve with a NULL argv.

Account for the additional stack space in bprm_stack_limits(). Inject an
empty string when argc == 0 (and set argc = 1). Warn about the case so
userspace has some notice about the change:

process './argc0' launched './argc0' with NULL argv: empty string added

Additionally WARN() and reject NULL argv usage for kernel threads.

[1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220127000724.15106-1-ariadne@dereferenced.org/
[2] https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/functions/exec.html
[3] https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=8408
[4] https://www.qualys.com/2022/01/25/cve-2021-4034/pwnkit.txt
[5] https://github.com/KSPP/linux/issues/176
[6] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execve%5C+*%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C+*NULL&literal=0
[7] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execlp%3F%5Cs*%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C%5Cs*NULL&literal=0
[8] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220131144352.GE16385@xsang-OptiPlex-9020/

Affected products

VendorProductAffectedFixed
Linux Linux 2.6.12 4.9.317

Fixed in Linux distributions

Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian 14 linux 5.17.3-1 —
Debian 13 linux 5.17.3-1 —
Debian 12 linux 5.17.3-1 —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-raspi-realtime No fix yet —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux +1 5.15.0-37.39 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-aws 5.15.0-1011.14 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-azure 5.15.0-1010.12 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-gcp 5.15.0-1008.12 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-gke 5.15.0-1008.10 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-ibm 5.15.0-1007.8 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-intel-iotg 5.15.0-1008.11 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-kvm 5.15.0-1010.11 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-oracle 5.15.0-1009.12 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-raspi 5.15.0-1011.13 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-riscv +32 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux 5.4.0-126.142 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-aws 5.4.0-1085.92 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-azure 5.4.0-1091.96 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-azure-5.15 5.15.0-1008.9~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-bluefield 5.4.0-1046.51 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gcp 5.4.0-1089.97 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gke +28 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-hwe-5.15 5.15.0-41.44~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-ibm 5.4.0-1033.37 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-intel-iotg-5.15 5.15.0-1008.11~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-iot 5.4.0-1004.6 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-kvm 5.4.0-1075.80 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 5.15.0-42.45~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-oracle 5.4.0-1083.91 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-raspi 5.4.0-1070.80 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux 4.15.0-191.202 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-aws 4.15.0-1139.150 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-aws-5.4 5.4.0-1085.92~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-azure-4.15 4.15.0-1149.164 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-azure-5.4 5.4.0-1091.96~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-gcp +14 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-gcp-4.15 4.15.0-1134.150 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-gcp-5.4 5.4.0-1089.97~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-hwe-5.4 5.4.0-126.142~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-ibm-5.4 5.4.0-1033.37~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-kvm 4.15.0-1125.130 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-oracle 4.15.0-1104.115 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-oracle-5.4 5.4.0-1083.91~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-raspi-5.4 5.4.0-1070.80~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS linux-hwe-edge No fix yet —
Show 9 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS linux-realtime 5.15.0-1014.14 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 16.04 LTS linux-fips No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-aws-fips 5.4.0-1085.92+fips1 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-azure-fips 5.4.0-1091.96+fips1 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-fips 5.4.0-1061.69 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-gcp-fips 5.4.0-1089.97+fips1 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS linux-aws-fips 4.15.0-2078.83 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS linux-azure-fips 4.15.0-2059.65 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS linux-fips 4.15.0-1096.107 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS linux-gcp-fips 4.15.0-2043.48 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 16.04 LTS linux-fips No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux +2 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-aws-hwe 4.15.0-1139.150~16.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-azure 4.15.0-1149.164~16.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-gcp 4.15.0-1134.150~16.04.2 —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-hwe 4.15.0-191.202~16.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-oracle 4.15.0-1104.115~16.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS linux +2 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS linux-azure 4.15.0-1149.164~14.04.1 —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
RHEL 9 perf +29 5.14.0-162.6.1.el9_1 RHSA-2022:8267
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
SLES 15 SP5 kernel-64kb +6 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1
SLES 15 SP5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1
SLES 15 SP4 kernel-64kb +6 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SLES 15 SP4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SLES 15 SP3 kernel-64kb +7 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1
SLES 15 SP3 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1
SLES 12 SP5 kernel-syms +2 4.12.14-122.255.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1293-1
Show 18 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
SLES for SAP 15 SP5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP5 kernel-docs +4 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP4 kernel-docs +4 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP3 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP3 kernel-docs +5 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1
SLE Micro 5.5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1
SLE Micro 5.5 kernel-rt +1 5.14.21-150500.13.91.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1176-1
SLE Micro 5.5 kernel-source +1 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1
SLE Micro 5.4 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SLE Micro 5.4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SLE Micro 5.4 kernel-rt +1 5.14.21-150400.15.115.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1183-1
SLE Micro 5.3 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SLE Micro 5.3 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SLE Micro 5.3 kernel-rt +1 5.14.21-150400.15.115.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1183-1
SLE Micro 5.2 kernel-default 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1
SLE Micro 5.2 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1
SLE Micro 5.2 kernel-rt +1 5.3.18-150300.205.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1194-1
SLE Micro 5.1 kernel-default 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1
SLE Micro 5.1 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1
SLE Micro 5.1 kernel-rt +1 5.3.18-150300.205.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1194-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-default 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5_Update_25 1-150500.11.3.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP4_Update_38 1-150400.9.3.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP3 kernel-default 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP3 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP3_Update_56 1-150300.7.3.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1
SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 kernel-default 4.12.14-122.255.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1293-1
SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_67 1-8.5.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1293-1
SLE HPC 15 SP5 kernel-64kb +5 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1
SLE HPC 15 SP5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1
SLE HPC 15 SP4 kernel-64kb +5 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SLE HPC 15 SP4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SLE HPC 15 SP3 kernel-64kb +6 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1
SLE HPC 15 SP3 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1
SUSE Manager Server 4.3 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SUSE Manager Server 4.3 kernel-syms +3 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 kernel-syms +2 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1
SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 kernel-64kb +6 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1
SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1

Amazon Linux

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Amazon Linux 2 kernel-livepatch-4.14.285-215.501 1.0-0.amzn2 ALAS2-2022-1813
Amazon Linux 2 perf +8 4.14.285-215.501.amzn2 ALAS2-2022-1813

Advisories 9

References