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CVE Record

CVE-2022-49379: driver core: Fix wait_for_device_probe() & deferred_probe_timeout interaction

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: driver core: Fix wait_for_device_probe() & deferred_probe_timeout interaction Mounting NFS rootfs was timing out when deferred_probe_timeout was non-zero [1]. This was because ip_auto_config() initcall times out waiting for the network interfaces to show up when deferred_probe_timeout was non-zero. While ip_auto_config() calls wait_for_device_probe() to make sure any currently running deferred probe work or asynchronous probe finishes, that wasn't sufficient to account for devices being deferred until deferred_probe_timeout. Commit 35a672363ab3 ("driver core: Ensure wait_for_device_probe() waits until the deferred_probe_timeout fires") tried to fix that by making sure wait_for_device_probe() waits for deferred_probe_timeout to expire before returning. However, if wait_for_device_probe() is called from the kernel_init() context: - Before deferred_probe_initcall() [2], it causes the boot process to hang due to a deadlock. - After deferred_probe_initcall() [3], it blocks kernel_init() from continuing till deferred_probe_timeout expires and beats the point of deferred_probe_timeout that's trying to wait for userspace to load modules. Neither of this is good. So revert the changes to wait_for_device_probe(). [1] - https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/TYAPR01MB45443DF63B9EF29054F7C41FD8C60@TYAPR01MB4544.jpnprd01.prod.outlook.com/ [2] - https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/YowHNo4sBjr9ijZr@dev-arch.thelio-3990X/ [3] - https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/Yo3WvGnNk3LvLb7R@linutronix.de/

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel boot reliability issue. Under specific deferred device probing conditions, systems can hang during boot or wait unnecessarily, especially around network-dependent boot flows such as NFS root filesystems. The public sources do not show active exploitation or a remote attack path.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted availability risk, not an internet-scale emergency. Prioritize platforms where failed or delayed boot would affect service recovery, appliances, embedded systems, or network-booted Linux hosts.

Technical view

The issue is in driver core handling of wait_for_device_probe() and deferred_probe_timeout. A prior fix made wait_for_device_probe() wait for deferred_probe_timeout, but calls from kernel_init() could deadlock before deferred_probe_initcall() or stall boot after it. Stable kernel commits revert that interaction.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions where deferred_probe_timeout and boot-time device probing matter. Systems using NFS rootfs or depending on late-loaded modules during boot are most relevant.

Exploitation context

CISA KEV status is false in the bundle. The provided sources describe boot hangs and timeouts, not public exploitation, privilege escalation, remote code execution, or weaponized abuse.

Researcher notes

The evidence points to a regression-style kernel availability bug in boot sequencing. No CVSS, CWE, exploit narrative, or vendor-specific package matrix is provided, so affected distribution status must be validated from vendor advisories.

Mitigation direction

  • Check vendor kernel advisories for affected distributions and supported fixed builds.
  • Prioritize updates for systems using NFS rootfs or deferred_probe_timeout.
  • Apply kernel versions containing the listed stable fixes when available.
  • Avoid changing boot probe settings without vendor guidance and regression testing.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across production and boot-critical systems.
  • Identify systems using NFS rootfs, deferred_probe_timeout, or late module loading.
  • Confirm whether vendor kernels include one of the referenced stable commits.
  • Test patched kernels through full reboot and network initialization paths.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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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
0ADP providers
6Source links

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.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux35a672363ab3e8dfe4ebcadb4dd0b2d06bb85ebe, 35a672363ab3e8dfe4ebcadb4dd0b2d06bb85ebe, 35a672363ab3e8dfe4ebcadb4dd0b2d06bb85ebe, 35a672363ab3e8dfe4ebcadb4dd0b2d06bb85ebe, 35a672363ab3e8dfe4ebcadb4dd0b2d06bb85ebeunaffected
LinuxLinux5.7, 0, 5.10.122, 5.15.47, 5.17.15, 5.18.4, 5.19affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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