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CVE Record

CVE-2022-49416: wifi: mac80211: fix use-after-free in chanctx code

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: fix use-after-free in chanctx code In ieee80211_vif_use_reserved_context(), when we have an old context and the new context's replace_state is set to IEEE80211_CHANCTX_REPLACE_NONE, we free the old context in ieee80211_vif_use_reserved_reassign(). Therefore, we cannot check the old_ctx anymore, so we should set it to NULL after this point. However, since the new_ctx replace state is clearly not IEEE80211_CHANCTX_REPLACES_OTHER, we're not going to do anything else in this function and can just return to avoid accessing the freed old_ctx.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-49416 is a Linux kernel Wi-Fi subsystem flaw. A local, low-privileged user could potentially trigger memory corruption in mac80211 channel-context handling, with high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. It matters most for Linux systems with Wi-Fi functionality enabled or present.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority kernel maintenance item for Wi-Fi-capable Linux fleets. It is not currently evidenced as actively exploited in the provided sources, but kernel memory-safety issues with high impact deserve timely patching through normal emergency or accelerated maintenance channels.

Technical view

The issue is a use-after-free in mac80211 chanctx code. In ieee80211_vif_use_reserved_context(), old_ctx could be freed during reassignment and then accessed. Kernel fixes avoid referencing the freed context by returning or nulling state. The CVE lists CWE-416 and CVSS 3.1 score 7.8, vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to Linux systems using affected kernel versions with mac80211 Wi-Fi code reachable. The CVE data lists Linux kernel versions starting at 3.17 and fixed stable points including 4.9.318, 4.14.283, 4.19.247, 5.4.198, 5.10.121, 5.15.46, 5.17.14, and 5.18.3.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector indicates local access and low privileges are required, with no user interaction. The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cite active exploitation. Practical exploitability is not established by the provided sources.

Researcher notes

The CVE record provides upstream stable commit references but no distribution-specific package names, proof-of-concept status, or exploitation evidence. Validate exposure through kernel lineage and vendor backports rather than version strings alone, because Linux distributions often backport fixes without changing major kernel versions.

Mitigation direction

  • Update affected Linux kernels to a vendor-supported release containing the mac80211 chanctx fix.
  • Prioritize laptops, workstations, and embedded devices where Wi-Fi is enabled or physically present.
  • Check distribution or device-vendor advisories for backported kernel fixes and reboot requirements.
  • If immediate patching is not possible, review whether Wi-Fi functionality can be disabled safely.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across systems with Wi-Fi hardware or mac80211 modules.
  • Compare installed kernels against vendor advisories and the upstream stable fix references.
  • Confirm patched kernels are active after reboot, not merely installed.
  • Track exceptions where embedded or appliance vendors ship custom kernels.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
11

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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

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.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2022-49416 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
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

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
10Source links

SSVC decision data

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

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
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2022-49416Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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
LinuxLinux5bcae31d9cb1ebfad3ad5a3eea04c8cdc329a04f, 5bcae31d9cb1ebfad3ad5a3eea04c8cdc329a04f, 5bcae31d9cb1ebfad3ad5a3eea04c8cdc329a04f, 5bcae31d9cb1ebfad3ad5a3eea04c8cdc329a04f, 5bcae31d9cb1ebfad3ad5a3eea04c8cdc329a04f, 5bcae31d9cb1ebfad3ad5a3eea04c8cdc329a04f, 5bcae31d9cb1ebfad3ad5a3eea04c8cdc329a04f, 5bcae31d9cb1ebfad3ad5a3eea04c8cdc329a04f, 5bcae31d9cb1ebfad3ad5a3eea04c8cdc329a04funaffected
LinuxLinux3.17, 0, 4.9.318, 4.14.283, 4.19.247, 5.4.198, 5.10.121, 5.15.46, 5.17.14, 5.18.3, 5.19affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-416

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-416 · source CWE mapping

Use After Free

Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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