In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: akcipher - default implementation for setting a private key Changes from v1: * removed the default implementation from set_pub_key: it is assumed that an implementation must always have this callback defined as there are no use case for an algorithm, which doesn't need a public key Many akcipher implementations (like ECDSA) support only signature verifications, so they don't have all callbacks defined. Commit 78a0324f4a53 ("crypto: akcipher - default implementations for request callbacks") introduced default callbacks for sign/verify operations, which just return an error code. However, these are not enough, because before calling sign the caller would likely call set_priv_key first on the instantiated transform (as the in-kernel testmgr does). This function does not have a default stub, so the kernel crashes, when trying to set a private key on an akcipher, which doesn't support signature generation. I've noticed this, when trying to add a KAT vector for ECDSA signature to the testmgr. With this patch the testmgr returns an error in dmesg (as it should) instead of crashing the kernel NULL ptr dereference.
History

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: akcipher - default implementation for setting a private key Changes from v1: * removed the default implementation from set_pub_key: it is assumed that an implementation must always have this callback defined as there are no use case for an algorithm, which doesn't need a public key Many akcipher implementations (like ECDSA) support only signature verifications, so they don't have all callbacks defined. Commit 78a0324f4a53 ("crypto: akcipher - default implementations for request callbacks") introduced default callbacks for sign/verify operations, which just return an error code. However, these are not enough, because before calling sign the caller would likely call set_priv_key first on the instantiated transform (as the in-kernel testmgr does). This function does not have a default stub, so the kernel crashes, when trying to set a private key on an akcipher, which doesn't support signature generation. I've noticed this, when trying to add a KAT vector for ECDSA signature to the testmgr. With this patch the testmgr returns an error in dmesg (as it should) instead of crashing the kernel NULL ptr dereference.
Title crypto: akcipher - default implementation for setting a private key
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2025-12-24T12:22:51.122Z

Reserved: 2025-12-24T12:20:40.331Z

Link: CVE-2022-50731

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2025-12-24T13:15:59.770

Modified: 2025-12-24T13:15:59.770

Link: CVE-2022-50731

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.