Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-49235 is a Linux kernel driver bug in ath9k_htc, used for some Atheros USB wireless devices. Missing initialization could send unintended kernel data into USB handling and is scored as mainly an availability risk. It is not listed as actively exploited in the provided sources.
Executive priority
Treat this as routine-to-important kernel maintenance, not an emergency internet-exposed issue. Prioritize shared Linux endpoints, lab systems, and devices using USB wireless adapters. Patch through normal kernel update channels, especially where local users or untrusted workloads exist.
Technical view
Syzbot/KMSAN found uninitialized fields in htc_connect_service() and htc_issue_send() within drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_hst.c. Fixes initialize svc_meta_len and zero the htc_frame_hdr control array. The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privilege, no user interaction, high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel versions where ath9k_htc code is present and exercised, commonly with compatible USB wireless hardware. Systems without this driver, hardware path, or affected kernels are less likely exposed. The source bundle does not identify specific distributions or appliances.
Exploitation context
The provided data marks KEV as false and gives no evidence of active exploitation. CVSS indicates local access with low privileges is required, with no user interaction. The public source describes sanitizer-detected uninitialized memory behavior, not a confirmed public exploit chain.
Researcher notes
The evidence is limited to Linux kernel CVE metadata and stable commits. The description references KMSAN kernel-usb-infoleak reports, while the CVSS vector records no confidentiality or integrity impact and high availability impact. Validate exposure by driver reachability and distribution backport status.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a Linux kernel containing the referenced stable ath9k_htc fixes.
- Check vendor or distribution advisories for backported kernel packages.
- Disable or avoid loading ath9k_htc where the driver is unnecessary.
- Prioritize systems using compatible USB wireless hardware or exposed local multi-user environments.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions against the affected and fixed versions in vendor advisories.
- Check whether ath9k_htc is built, loaded, or needed on target systems.
- Confirm patched source includes initialization of svc_meta_len and htc_frame_hdr control.
- Review kernel package changelogs for CVE-2022-49235 or the referenced commit IDs.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-908: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-49235 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- 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
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5c2a6a8daa17a3f65b38b9a5574bb362c13fa1d9CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e352acdd378e9263cc4c6018e588f2dac7161d07CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee4222052a76559c20e821bc3519cefb58b6d3e9CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4d244b731188e0b63fc40a9d2dec72e9181fb37cCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/11f11ac281f0c0b363d2940204f28bae0422ed71CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0b700f7d06492de34964b6f414120043364f8191CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7da6169b6ebb75816b57be3beb829afa74f3b4b6CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5abf2b761b998063f5e2bae93fd4ab10e2a80f10CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d1e0df1c57bd30871dd1c855742a7c346dbca853CVE reference, Linux
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Use of Uninitialized Resource
Use of Uninitialized Resource represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.