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CVE Record

CVE-2022-48953: rtc: cmos: Fix event handler registration ordering issue

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rtc: cmos: Fix event handler registration ordering issue Because acpi_install_fixed_event_handler() enables the event automatically on success, it is incorrect to call it before the handler routine passed to it is ready to handle events. Unfortunately, the rtc-cmos driver does exactly the incorrect thing by calling cmos_wake_setup(), which passes rtc_handler() to acpi_install_fixed_event_handler(), before cmos_do_probe(), because rtc_handler() uses dev_get_drvdata() to get to the cmos object pointer and the driver data pointer is only populated in cmos_do_probe(). This leads to a NULL pointer dereference in rtc_handler() on boot if the RTC fixed event happens to be active at the init time. To address this issue, change the initialization ordering of the driver so that cmos_wake_setup() is always called after a successful cmos_do_probe() call. While at it, change cmos_pnp_probe() to call cmos_do_probe() after the initial if () statement used for computing the IRQ argument to be passed to cmos_do_probe() which is cleaner than calling it in each branch of that if () (local variable "irq" can be of type int, because it is passed to that function as an argument of type int). Note that commit 6492fed7d8c9 ("rtc: rtc-cmos: Do not check ACPI_FADT_LOW_POWER_S0") caused this issue to affect a larger number of systems, because previously it only affected systems with ACPI_FADT_LOW_POWER_S0 set, but it is present regardless of that commit.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue can crash a system during startup when a real-time clock ACPI event fires before the RTC driver has finished setting up its internal data. The known impact is availability, not data theft. Public sources do not provide CVSS, CWE, or active exploitation evidence.

Executive priority

Treat as a reliability patch rather than an emergency breach response. Schedule remediation through normal kernel maintenance, with higher priority for critical infrastructure where boot failure would create business disruption.

Technical view

The rtc-cmos driver registered an ACPI fixed event handler before cmos_do_probe() populated driver data. If the RTC fixed event was active during initialization, rtc_handler() could dereference NULL via dev_get_drvdata(). The fix reorders initialization so cmos_wake_setup() runs only after successful probe.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant for Linux systems running affected kernel ranges that use the rtc-cmos driver and ACPI RTC fixed events. The source notes a prior commit expanded the number of affected systems. Exact distribution package exposure is not identified in the provided sources.

Exploitation context

No active exploitation is reported in the supplied bundle, and KEV status is false. The described trigger is a boot-time RTC fixed event during driver initialization. Public sources provided do not describe remote, authenticated, or user-controlled exploitation conditions.

Researcher notes

The evidence supports a boot-time NULL pointer dereference in Linux rtc-cmos initialization ordering. No CVSS, CWE, exploit status, or distribution-specific package mapping is provided. Avoid assuming confidentiality or integrity impact without additional vendor analysis.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a Linux kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check your distribution kernel advisory before scheduling production rollout.
  • Prioritize systems where boot reliability is operationally critical.
  • Track vendor release notes for backported rtc-cmos fixes.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running Linux kernel versions across the fleet.
  • Verify whether kernels include one of the cited stable commits.
  • Review boot logs for rtc-cmos or NULL pointer dereference failures.
  • Confirm patched systems reboot cleanly after maintenance.
Prepared
Confidence
high
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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CVE-2022-48953 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
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
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxa474aaedac99ba86e28ef6c912a7647c482db6dd, a474aaedac99ba86e28ef6c912a7647c482db6dd, a474aaedac99ba86e28ef6c912a7647c482db6dd, a474aaedac99ba86e28ef6c912a7647c482db6ddunaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.28, 0, 5.10.163, 5.15.86, 6.0.14, 6.1affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.