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CVE Record

CVE-2022-48876: wifi: mac80211: fix initialization of rx->link and rx->link_sta

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: fix initialization of rx->link and rx->link_sta There are some codepaths that do not initialize rx->link_sta properly. This causes a crash in places which assume that rx->link_sta is valid if rx->sta is valid. One known instance is triggered by __ieee80211_rx_h_amsdu being called from fast-rx. It results in a crash like this one: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 00000000000000a8 #PF: supervisor write access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0002) - not-present page PGD 0 P4D 0 Oops: 0002 [#1] PREEMPT SMP PTI CPU: 1 PID: 506 Comm: mt76-usb-rx phy Tainted: G E 6.1.0-debian64x+1.7 #3 Hardware name: ZOTAC ZBOX-ID92/ZBOX-IQ01/ZBOX-ID92/ZBOX-IQ01, BIOS B220P007 05/21/2014 RIP: 0010:ieee80211_deliver_skb+0x62/0x1f0 [mac80211] Code: 00 48 89 04 24 e8 9e a7 c3 df 89 c0 48 03 1c c5 a0 ea 39 a1 4c 01 6b 08 48 ff 03 48 83 7d 28 00 74 11 48 8b 45 30 48 63 55 44 <48> 83 84 d0 a8 00 00 00 01 41 8b 86 c0 11 00 00 8d 50 fd 83 fa 01 RSP: 0018:ffff999040803b10 EFLAGS: 00010286 RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffffb9903f496480 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: 0000000000000000 RBP: ffff999040803ce0 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 0000000000000000 R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000000000000000 R12: ffff8d21828ac900 R13: 000000000000004a R14: ffff8d2198ed89c0 R15: ffff8d2198ed8000 FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff8d24afe80000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 00000000000000a8 CR3: 0000000429810002 CR4: 00000000001706e0 Call Trace: <TASK> __ieee80211_rx_h_amsdu+0x1b5/0x240 [mac80211] ? ieee80211_prepare_and_rx_handle+0xcdd/0x1320 [mac80211] ? __local_bh_enable_ip+0x3b/0xa0 ieee80211_prepare_and_rx_handle+0xcdd/0x1320 [mac80211] ? prepare_transfer+0x109/0x1a0 [xhci_hcd] ieee80211_rx_list+0xa80/0xda0 [mac80211] mt76_rx_complete+0x207/0x2e0 [mt76] mt76_rx_poll_complete+0x357/0x5a0 [mt76] mt76u_rx_worker+0x4f5/0x600 [mt76_usb] ? mt76_get_min_avg_rssi+0x140/0x140 [mt76] __mt76_worker_fn+0x50/0x80 [mt76] kthread+0xed/0x120 ? kthread_complete_and_exit+0x20/0x20 ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30 Since the initialization of rx->link and rx->link_sta is rather convoluted and duplicated in many places, clean it up by using a helper function to set it. [remove unnecessary rx->sta->sta.mlo check]

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-48876 is a Linux kernel Wi-Fi bug that can crash affected systems when specific mac80211 receive paths mishandle internal link state. The public bundle supports an availability impact, not data theft or remote code execution. Prioritize systems that depend on Linux Wi-Fi for operations.

Executive priority

Set a moderate priority where Linux Wi-Fi availability matters. Escalate if affected devices are operationally critical or remotely managed only over Wi-Fi. Current sources do not justify emergency response for non-Wi-Fi Linux systems.

Technical view

The flaw is in Linux mac80211 initialization of rx->link and rx->link_sta. Some paths leave rx->link_sta unset while rx->sta is valid, causing a NULL pointer dereference during fast-rx A-MSDU handling, including a documented ieee80211_deliver_skb crash path.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems using the mac80211 Wi-Fi stack in affected kernel ranges identified by the CVE data, including 6.1-era builds before the referenced stable fixes. Exact distro exposure depends on vendor backports.

Exploitation context

The source bundle provides a kernel crash trace and stable fix references. It does not cite active exploitation, KEV status is false, and no public exploit evidence is provided. Treat this as a crashable availability issue unless vendor guidance says otherwise.

Researcher notes

The key uncertainty is version mapping across distributions. The CVE data names Linux kernel 6.1/6.2-related affected entries and two stable commits, but does not provide CVSS, CWE, or exploitability detail. Validate against vendor kernel changelogs.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a kernel containing the referenced Linux stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for backported fixes.
  • Prioritize Wi-Fi-dependent servers, appliances, kiosks, and endpoints.
  • Reduce reliance on affected Wi-Fi interfaces until patched where operationally practical.
  • Monitor for recurring mac80211 kernel oops or NULL dereference crashes.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions on Wi-Fi-capable systems.
  • Confirm kernels include the referenced stable commits or distro backports.
  • Check logs for ieee80211_deliver_skb or __ieee80211_rx_h_amsdu crashes.
  • Validate Wi-Fi functionality after kernel updates.
  • Track vendor advisories for affected package status and fixed builds.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

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-2022-48876 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
1ADP providers
3Source 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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxccdde7c74ffd7e8bdd3cf685bbfa41231c8e3131, ccdde7c74ffd7e8bdd3cf685bbfa41231c8e3131unaffected
LinuxLinux6.1, 0, 6.1.8, 6.2affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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