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CVE Record

CVE-2022-48769: efi: runtime: avoid EFIv2 runtime services on Apple x86 machines

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: efi: runtime: avoid EFIv2 runtime services on Apple x86 machines Aditya reports [0] that his recent MacbookPro crashes in the firmware when using the variable services at runtime. The culprit appears to be a call to QueryVariableInfo(), which we did not use to call on Apple x86 machines in the past as they only upgraded from EFI v1.10 to EFI v2.40 firmware fairly recently, and QueryVariableInfo() (along with UpdateCapsule() et al) was added in EFI v2.00. The only runtime service introduced in EFI v2.00 that we actually use in Linux is QueryVariableInfo(), as the capsule based ones are optional, generally not used at runtime (all the LVFS/fwupd firmware update infrastructure uses helper EFI programs that invoke capsule update at boot time, not runtime), and not implemented by Apple machines in the first place. QueryVariableInfo() is used to 'safely' set variables, i.e., only when there is enough space. This prevents machines with buggy firmwares from corrupting their NVRAMs when they run out of space. Given that Apple machines have been using EFI v1.10 services only for the longest time (the EFI v2.0 spec was released in 2006, and Linux support for the newly introduced runtime services was added in 2011, but the MacbookPro12,1 released in 2015 still claims to be EFI v1.10 only), let's avoid the EFI v2.0 ones on all Apple x86 machines. [0] https://lore.kernel.org/all/6D757C75-65B1-468B-842D-10410081A8E4@live.com/

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue affects Intel-based Apple Macs running Linux. Some Apple firmware can crash when Linux calls an EFI v2 runtime variable service. The practical risk is system instability or crashes on a narrow hardware class, not a confirmed data theft or remote compromise issue.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted availability and stability fix for Linux-on-Intel-Mac environments. It should not displace internet-facing critical patching unless those systems are operationally important.

Technical view

Linux used QueryVariableInfo(), an EFI v2 runtime service, when setting EFI variables. On Apple x86 machines, that call could crash firmware. The fix avoids EFI v2 runtime services on Apple x86 systems because Apple historically exposed EFI v1.10 behavior and does not implement related capsule services.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely limited to Linux installations on Apple x86 hardware using affected kernel versions. Non-Apple systems and non-x86 Apple systems are not identified as affected in the supplied sources.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show active exploitation, KEV listing, public exploit activity, or a remote attack path. Evidence describes a firmware crash triggered by runtime EFI variable service use.

Researcher notes

The evidence is specific to Apple x86 firmware behavior and QueryVariableInfo(). Severity metadata, CVSS, CWE, and exploitability details are absent in the supplied bundle, so impact should be validated against actual hardware and kernel lineage.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor or stable Linux kernel containing the referenced fixes.
  • Prioritize Intel Apple Mac systems that boot Linux with affected kernels.
  • Check distribution advisories before changing custom or pinned kernels.
  • Avoid inventing workarounds; follow Linux distribution or upstream kernel guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux hosts running on Apple x86 hardware.
  • Compare kernel versions against vendor-fixed packages or referenced stable commits.
  • Review boot and firmware logs for EFI runtime variable service crashes.
  • Confirm patched kernels no longer use EFI v2 runtime services on Apple x86.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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

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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

CVECVE Program Container
CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxd6cf86d8f23253225fe2a763d627ecf7dfee9dae, d6cf86d8f23253225fe2a763d627ecf7dfee9dae, d6cf86d8f23253225fe2a763d627ecf7dfee9dae, d6cf86d8f23253225fe2a763d627ecf7dfee9dae, 13fcf5d1c5fe491aeb0b0f34a46d88134432edb1, 0c9673834740afdfa7c172b1b19c6b3ec5bc3907, 8e221a3c057d674e3c1cc4d1d8fe65ac4697104b, b3ab8b31e8b3c1ff4971bd52d0c8ebde5cfbdb97, 3.2.32, 3.4.14, 3.5.7, 3.6.2unaffected
LinuxLinux3.7, 0, 5.10.96, 5.15.19, 5.16.5, 5.17affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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