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CVE Record

CVE-2022-48879: efi: fix NULL-deref in init error path

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: efi: fix NULL-deref in init error path In cases where runtime services are not supported or have been disabled, the runtime services workqueue will never have been allocated. Do not try to destroy the workqueue unconditionally in the unlikely event that EFI initialisation fails to avoid dereferencing a NULL pointer.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-48879 is a Linux kernel EFI initialization bug. In an uncommon startup error path, the kernel may try to destroy a workqueue that was never created, causing a NULL pointer dereference. The provided sources do not show active exploitation, remote reachability, or a scored severity.

Executive priority

Treat as routine kernel maintenance unless affected systems show EFI initialization instability. There is no provided evidence of active exploitation or remote compromise, but unpatched kernels may face startup reliability risk.

Technical view

The flaw is in Linux kernel EFI handling. When EFI runtime services are unsupported or disabled, the runtime services workqueue may not be allocated. If EFI initialization later fails, unconditional cleanup can dereference NULL. Stable kernel commits add a guard in that init failure path.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to Linux systems using EFI/UEFI where EFI runtime services are disabled or unsupported and EFI initialization fails. Downstream distro exposure depends on kernel version and backported fixes.

Exploitation context

The bundle marks KEV as false and provides no evidence of active exploitation. The description points to a boot or initialization error-path availability issue, not a confirmed remote attack vector.

Researcher notes

The CVE data has no CVSS, CWE, or exploit detail. The affected version list mixes kernel releases and commit identifiers, so validate against upstream stable commits and downstream vendor backports before declaring exposure.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor kernel containing the listed stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for backported CVE-2022-48879 patches.
  • Prioritize systems with EFI runtime services disabled or unsupported.
  • Track unsupported custom kernels separately from vendor-managed kernels.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across EFI/UEFI booted systems.
  • Confirm vendor changelogs mention CVE-2022-48879 or the stable fix commits.
  • Review boot logs for EFI initialization failures on affected systems.
  • Verify custom kernels include the EFI cleanup NULL-check fix.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

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-2022-48879 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
7Source 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
LinuxLinux2ff3c97b47521d6700cc6485c7935908dcd2c27c, 5167f194da6947e19a3e970485ee3ccb44f7958d, 98086df8b70c06234a8f4290c46064e44dafa0ed, 98086df8b70c06234a8f4290c46064e44dafa0ed, 98086df8b70c06234a8f4290c46064e44dafa0ed, 98086df8b70c06234a8f4290c46064e44dafa0ed, f591a42b8f9a9d20e01d0462f4f55d2176ac52ec, e6584124b9823151ef586d10dedf565ade50cea6unaffected
LinuxLinux5.9, 0, 4.19.270, 5.4.229, 5.10.164, 5.15.89, 6.1.7, 6.2affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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