Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-49359 is a Linux kernel use-after-free in the Panfrost DRM GPU driver. A local user could potentially affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability on systems using vulnerable kernel builds. The available sources describe an upstream fix, but do not cite active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for Linux fleets using Panfrost-capable kernels, especially shared devices or systems running untrusted local workloads. Patch through normal kernel update channels after confirming exposure.
Technical view
The Panfrost job structure referenced panfrost_priv to reach the MMU context even though the MMU could outlive panfrost_priv. If panfrost_priv was freed first, job handling could dereference freed memory. The fix stores a direct reference to the MMU structure instead.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems with affected kernel versions and the drm/panfrost driver enabled. The source bundle lists Linux 5.15, 5.17.15, 5.18.4, and 5.19 as affected data points; verify against vendor kernel packaging and backports.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privilege, no user interaction, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The source bundle says KEV is false and provides no cited evidence of exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and upstream stable commit references. The root cause is a lifetime mismatch between panfrost_priv and the MMU context. No public exploit status, affected downstream distributions, or vendor-specific mitigations are provided in the source bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a vendor-supported kernel containing the upstream Panfrost MMU reference fix.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for affected package versions and backported patches.
- Prioritize systems where untrusted local users or workloads can access GPU functionality.
- If vendor-supported, reduce exposure by removing unused vulnerable Panfrost-enabled kernels.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions and confirm whether drm/panfrost is present or enabled.
- Map installed kernels to vendor advisories or the referenced stable commits.
- For source-built kernels, confirm jobs reference the MMU directly, not panfrost_priv.
- Review kernel logs for Panfrost-related use-after-free splats as supporting evidence only.
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
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CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-49359 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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/8c8e8cc91a6ffc79865108279a74fd57d9070a17CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/472dd7ea5e19a1aeabf1711ddc756777e05ee7c2CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6e516faf04317db2c46cbec4e3b78b4653a5b109CVE 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 After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.