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CVE Record

CVE-2022-49212: mtd: rawnand: atmel: fix refcount issue in atmel_nand_controller_init

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mtd: rawnand: atmel: fix refcount issue in atmel_nand_controller_init The reference counting issue happens in several error handling paths on a refcounted object "nc->dmac". In these paths, the function simply returns the error code, forgetting to balance the reference count of "nc->dmac", increased earlier by dma_request_channel(), which may cause refcount leaks. Fix it by decrementing the refcount of specific object in those error paths.

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-49212 is a Linux kernel reliability flaw in the Atmel raw NAND controller driver. Certain initialization error paths fail to release a DMA channel reference, causing reference-count leaks. The documented impact is availability, not data theft or tampering. It requires local access and low privileges, so urgency is highest for Linux systems using this hardware/driver combination.

Executive priority

Treat as routine-to-prioritized maintenance, not an emergency internet-facing incident. Patch during the next appropriate kernel update cycle, faster for embedded devices where downtime from kernel resource leaks would affect operations. No provided source indicates active exploitation.

Technical view

The flaw is in atmel_nand_controller_init in the Linux kernel MTD raw NAND Atmel driver. dma_request_channel() increases the reference count for nc->dmac; several error paths returned without decrementing it. The kernel fix balances the reference count on those paths. CVSS 3.1 is 5.5, local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no UI, high availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to Linux deployments with the Atmel raw NAND controller driver and affected kernel versions listed in the CVE data, including 4.12 and fixed-point ranges around 4.14.276, 4.19.238, 5.4.189, 5.10.110, 5.15.33, 5.16.19, 5.17.2, and 5.18. Confirm against your vendor kernel build.

Exploitation context

The CVE record indicates local access with low privileges is required. The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or any cited active exploitation. The practical concern is denial of service or resource exhaustion on affected systems, especially embedded or appliance-like Linux platforms using Atmel NAND hardware.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record and upstream Linux stable commits. The issue is a refcount leak on nc->dmac in error handling after dma_request_channel(). No CWE is provided. Affected-version data should be interpreted carefully because downstream Linux vendors often backport fixes without changing major kernel version strings.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize affected embedded systems using Atmel raw NAND controller support.
  • If no vendor advisory exists, check upstream stable kernel guidance before changing kernels.
  • Limit local shell access on potentially affected systems until patched.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and vendor backport status.
  • Confirm whether the Atmel raw NAND controller driver is present or enabled.
  • Check vendor advisories for CVE-2022-49212 coverage.
  • Verify the kernel includes one of the referenced upstream stable commits.
  • Monitor systems for availability issues if immediate patching is delayed.
Prepared
Confidence
high
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-2022-49212 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
9Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

5.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2022-49212Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

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
cvssV3_1other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxf88fc122cc34c2545dec9562eaab121494e401ef, f88fc122cc34c2545dec9562eaab121494e401ef, f88fc122cc34c2545dec9562eaab121494e401ef, f88fc122cc34c2545dec9562eaab121494e401ef, f88fc122cc34c2545dec9562eaab121494e401ef, f88fc122cc34c2545dec9562eaab121494e401ef, f88fc122cc34c2545dec9562eaab121494e401ef, f88fc122cc34c2545dec9562eaab121494e401efunaffected
LinuxLinux4.12, 0, 4.14.276, 4.19.238, 5.4.189, 5.10.110, 5.15.33, 5.16.19, 5.17.2, 5.18affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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