Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-49412 is a Linux kernel flaw in the BFQ I/O scheduler. Under certain cgroup-related I/O activity, BFQ can merge queues whose parent cgroups no longer match, causing use-after-free memory corruption. This is locally reachable and rated high because successful exploitation could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation on multi-user Linux systems, container hosts, and environments where local users or workloads are not fully trusted. This is high severity but evidence provided does not support emergency active-exploitation treatment.
Technical view
The flaw is CWE-416 in Linux BFQ queue merging. A BFQ queue can be reparented between the merge decision and bfq_setup_merge(), including to an offline cgroup parent. Merging queues with different parents can trigger use-after-free in BFQ entity deactivation. The kernel fix checks that both queues have the same parent before merging.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with BFQ and cgroup-based I/O activity. The bundle lists Linux kernel 5.13-era affected status and fixed stable references including 5.15.46, 5.17.14, and 5.18.3; confirm distro backports rather than relying only on upstream version numbers.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction. The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public active exploitation evidence. Treat this as a local privilege-impact kernel memory-safety issue, not as a remotely exploitable service bug based on the provided evidence.
Researcher notes
The key condition is a race between stable merge selection and bfq_setup_merge() after BFQ queue reparenting, especially with cgroup I/O changes and offline parents. Validation should focus on kernel lineage, vendor backports, BFQ configuration, and whether cgroup-driven workloads can reach the vulnerable path.
Mitigation direction
- Update affected Linux kernels using vendor or distribution kernel packages.
- Prioritize kernels containing the referenced upstream stable BFQ fixes.
- Check distribution advisories for backported fixes and exact package versions.
- Avoid unsupported kernel workarounds unless vendor guidance specifically recommends them.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, workstations, containers hosts, and appliances.
- Confirm whether BFQ is available or used on affected systems.
- Map installed kernel packages to vendor advisories or the referenced stable commits.
- Run regression testing for storage workloads after kernel updates.
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-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-49412 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/5ee21edaed09e6b25f2c007b3f326752bc89bacfCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a16c65cca7d2c7ff965fdd3adc8df2156529caf1CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8abc8763b11c35e03cc91d59fd0cd28d39f88ca9CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c1cee4ab36acef271be9101590756ed0c0c374d9CVE 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.