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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2022-2196

🗓️ 07 Aug 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 3 Views

CVE-2022-2196: Unpatched kernel bug enables spectre version two from L2 to host; upgrade to 6.2.

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Refs
Code
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(245196);
  script_version("1.11");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/05/21");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2022-2196");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2022-2196");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - A regression exists in the Linux Kernel within KVM: nVMX that allowed for speculative execution attacks.
    L2 can carry out Spectre v2 attacks on L1 due to L1 thinking it doesn't need retpolines or IBPB after
    running L2 due to KVM (L0) advertising eIBRS support to L1. An attacker at L2 with code execution can
    execute code on an indirect branch on the host machine. We recommend upgrading to Kernel 6.2 or past
    commit 2e7eab81425a (CVE-2022-2196)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2022-2196");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:C");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2022-2196");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2023/01/09");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/08/07");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:22.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:24.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.11");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.13");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.3");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-aws-5.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-5.11");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-5.13");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-5.3");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-5.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-azure-edge");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-5.11");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-5.13");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-5.3");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gcp-5.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gke-4.15");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gke-5.4");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-gkeop-5.4");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-5.11");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-5.13");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-5.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-hwe-edge");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-intel-5.13");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-5.10");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-5.13");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oem-5.6");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-5.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-5.11");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-5.13");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-5.3");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-oracle-5.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-raspi-realtime");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-raspi2");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-realtime");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-riscv");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-riscv-5.11");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-riscv-5.8");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2025-2026 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info2.nasl", "set_linux_os_id.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched", "Host/OS/identifier");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-16.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-18.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-20.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-22.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-24.04");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Ubuntu Linux-16.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "16.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-edge"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-18.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "18.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.3"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-5.3"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-cloud-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-edge"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-headers-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-5.3"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-headers-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-gke-4.15"},
          {"reference": "linux-gke-5.4"},
          {"reference": "linux-gkeop-5.4"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-unsigned-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-extra-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-headers-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oracle-5.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oracle-5.3"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-4.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-azure"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-oem"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-20.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "20.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.11"},
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-aws-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-5.11"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-azure-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-buildinfo-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-buildinfo-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-5.11"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-gcp-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-5.11"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-hwe-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-unsigned-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-intel-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-libc-dev"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-extra-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-extra-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.10"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.6-headers-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.6-tools-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.6-tools-common"},
          {"reference": "linux-oem-5.6-tools-host"},
          {"reference": "linux-oracle-5.11"},
          {"reference": "linux-oracle-5.13"},
          {"reference": "linux-oracle-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-raspi2"},
          {"reference": "linux-riscv-5.11"},
          {"reference": "linux-riscv-5.8"},
          {"reference": "linux-riscv-headers-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-riscv-tools-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-5.4.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-5.6.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-generic"},
          {"reference": "linux-udebs-oem"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-22.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "22.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-buildinfo-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-cloud-tools-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-headers-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-image-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-modules-extra-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-realtime"},
          {"reference": "linux-riscv-headers-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-riscv-tools-5.15.0"},
          {"reference": "linux-tools-5.15.0"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-24.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "24.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "linux-raspi-realtime"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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21 May 2026 00:00Current
7.2High risk
Vulners AI Score7.2
CVSS 3.15.8 - 8.8
EPSS0.00033
SSVC
3