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CVE Record

CVE-2022-48972: mac802154: fix missing INIT_LIST_HEAD in ieee802154_if_add()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mac802154: fix missing INIT_LIST_HEAD in ieee802154_if_add() Kernel fault injection test reports null-ptr-deref as follows: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000008 RIP: 0010:cfg802154_netdev_notifier_call+0x120/0x310 include/linux/list.h:114 Call Trace: <TASK> raw_notifier_call_chain+0x6d/0xa0 kernel/notifier.c:87 call_netdevice_notifiers_info+0x6e/0xc0 net/core/dev.c:1944 unregister_netdevice_many_notify+0x60d/0xcb0 net/core/dev.c:1982 unregister_netdevice_queue+0x154/0x1a0 net/core/dev.c:10879 register_netdevice+0x9a8/0xb90 net/core/dev.c:10083 ieee802154_if_add+0x6ed/0x7e0 net/mac802154/iface.c:659 ieee802154_register_hw+0x29c/0x330 net/mac802154/main.c:229 mcr20a_probe+0xaaa/0xcb1 drivers/net/ieee802154/mcr20a.c:1316 ieee802154_if_add() allocates wpan_dev as netdev's private data, but not init the list in struct wpan_dev. cfg802154_netdev_notifier_call() manage the list when device register/unregister, and may lead to null-ptr-deref. Use INIT_LIST_HEAD() on it to initialize it correctly.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel crash bug in the IEEE 802.15.4 wireless networking stack. A missing list initialization can trigger a null pointer dereference when a WPAN network device is registered or unregistered. The public sources describe a reliability issue, not confirmed active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted kernel reliability risk. Prioritize patching for embedded, IoT, or specialized systems using WPAN hardware. For general servers without IEEE 802.15.4 use, handle through normal kernel maintenance unless vendor guidance indicates broader impact.

Technical view

In mac802154, ieee802154_if_add() allocates wpan_dev as netdev private data but did not initialize a list head. cfg802154_netdev_notifier_call() later manages that list during netdevice register/unregister paths, which can dereference null. The fix adds INIT_LIST_HEAD().

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using IEEE 802.15.4/WPAN functionality or related drivers such as mcr20a. Systems without this kernel functionality enabled or used may have limited practical exposure. The source bundle lists affected Linux kernel versions but does not provide distribution package mappings.

Exploitation context

The cited record says the issue was found by kernel fault injection testing. KEV is false, and the bundle provides no public evidence of active exploitation, exploit availability, remote reachability, privilege requirements, or real-world abuse.

Researcher notes

The evidence supports a missing initialization bug causing kernel null pointer dereference during netdevice lifecycle handling. Impact boundaries are not fully described in the bundle. Avoid assuming remote exploitation or privilege escalation without additional vendor or upstream analysis.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux kernel stable updates containing the referenced fix commits.
  • Check your distribution kernel advisories for CVE-2022-48972 package status.
  • Prioritize systems using IEEE 802.15.4, WPAN, or related hardware drivers.
  • If patch timing is unclear, follow vendor kernel guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory kernels and compare versions against vendor advisories for CVE-2022-48972.
  • Check whether mac802154, cfg802154, or IEEE 802.15.4 drivers are enabled.
  • Confirm the relevant stable fix is present in deployed kernel sources or packages.
  • Review crash logs for matching null pointer dereference traces in cfg802154 paths.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

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-2022-48972 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
9Source 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
LinuxLinuxfcf39e6e88e9492f6688ec8ba4e1be622b904232, fcf39e6e88e9492f6688ec8ba4e1be622b904232, fcf39e6e88e9492f6688ec8ba4e1be622b904232, fcf39e6e88e9492f6688ec8ba4e1be622b904232, fcf39e6e88e9492f6688ec8ba4e1be622b904232, fcf39e6e88e9492f6688ec8ba4e1be622b904232, fcf39e6e88e9492f6688ec8ba4e1be622b904232, fcf39e6e88e9492f6688ec8ba4e1be622b904232unaffected
LinuxLinux3.19, 0, 4.9.336, 4.14.302, 4.19.269, 5.4.227, 5.10.159, 5.15.83, 6.0.13, 6.1affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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