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CVE Record

CVE-2022-48642: netfilter: nf_tables: fix percpu memory leak at nf_tables_addchain()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_tables: fix percpu memory leak at nf_tables_addchain() It seems to me that percpu memory for chain stats started leaking since commit 3bc158f8d0330f0a ("netfilter: nf_tables: map basechain priority to hardware priority") when nft_chain_offload_priority() returned an error.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-48642 is a Linux kernel nf_tables memory leak. Under a specific chain-add failure path, the kernel may leak per-CPU memory. The provided sources do not show data exposure, privilege escalation, active exploitation, or a severity score, so urgency should be based on kernel exposure and operational reliability risk.

Executive priority

Treat this as a kernel maintenance item, not an emergency, unless affected systems show memory pressure or vendor advisories raise severity. Because no exploitation evidence or CVSS score is provided, prioritize patching through the normal Linux kernel update cycle.

Technical view

The bug is in netfilter nf_tables_addchain(). After commit 3bc158f8d033, nft_chain_offload_priority() could return an error after per-CPU chain statistics memory was allocated, leaving that allocation unfreed. The referenced Linux stable commits resolve the leak in affected kernel lines.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel builds with nf_tables/netfilter available. The bundle lists Linux kernel versions including 5.3, 5.10.146, 5.15.71, 5.19.12, and 6.0 as affected, but does not provide distribution-specific package status.

Exploitation context

The source bundle states KEV is false and provides no evidence of active exploitation or public exploit use. The issue is described as a memory leak on an error path, not a remotely exploitable flaw. Trigger requirements are not fully documented in the provided sources.

Researcher notes

The useful research focus is confirming whether local kernel packages include the stable fix and whether nftables configuration can reach the failing offload-priority path. The provided sources do not include exploitability analysis, affected distributions, or detailed prerequisites.

Mitigation direction

  • Update affected Linux kernels using distribution or vendor security channels.
  • Confirm the kernel includes one of the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize internet-facing or multi-tenant Linux hosts after vendor impact review.
  • Monitor vendor advisories for package-specific backports and fixed versions.
  • Avoid direct wrangler-style deployment analogies; follow normal kernel maintenance procedures.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, containers hosts, and appliances.
  • Check whether systems use kernels derived from the listed affected versions.
  • Verify vendor kernel changelogs reference CVE-2022-48642 or the stable commits.
  • Review monitoring for abnormal kernel memory growth on nftables-enabled systems.
  • Document exceptions where vendor guidance says the build is not affected.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2022-48642 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
5Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux3bc158f8d0330f0ac58597c023acca2234c14616, 3bc158f8d0330f0ac58597c023acca2234c14616, 3bc158f8d0330f0ac58597c023acca2234c14616, 3bc158f8d0330f0ac58597c023acca2234c14616unaffected
LinuxLinux5.3, 0, 5.10.146, 5.15.71, 5.19.12, 6.0affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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