Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-49426 is a Linux kernel use-after-free bug in the ARM SMMU v3 SVA IOMMU code. A local low-privileged user could potentially impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The issue is rated high, but public sources provided do not show active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for affected Arm64 Linux fleets, especially shared or multi-user systems. The main business risk is local kernel compromise or outage. Prioritize patch validation over emergency response unless your vendor or threat intelligence reports exploitation.
Technical view
The bug occurs because arm64_mm_context_put() was called without holding a reference to the mm structure, creating a use-after-free condition. The upstream fix adds mmgrab()/mmdrop() so the mm is not freed before the ASID is unpinned. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8: local, low privileges, no user interaction.
Likely exposure
Likely exposure is Linux systems on Arm64 platforms using the arm-smmu-v3-sva IOMMU path. The source bundle references Linux kernel 5.11-era through 5.19-era data and stable fixes, but exact distribution exposure should be confirmed with vendor advisories.
Exploitation context
Exploitation is local per CVSS and requires low privileges. No KEV listing or cited source in the bundle indicates active exploitation. Public details here describe the bug and fix, not a weaponized exploit.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and upstream stable commits. The affected-version data in the bundle is not clean enough for precise range claims. Validate by commit presence, distribution advisories, and whether the vulnerable arm-smmu-v3-sva path is reachable on the target platform.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade to a Linux kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for backported fixes to supported kernels.
- Prioritize Arm64 systems using ARM SMMU v3 SVA/IOMMU functionality.
- If patch timing is uncertain, seek vendor-specific mitigation guidance.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions on Arm64 systems.
- Identify systems using ARM SMMU v3 SVA or related IOMMU functionality.
- Compare running kernels with vendor-fixed builds or referenced stable commits.
- Confirm the fix is present through distribution changelogs or kernel source history.
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-2022-49426 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/fc90f13ea0dcd960e5002d204fa55cec4e0db2faCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e3cbbdbff8a4db5d053c53fd71be62ccccdb52b0CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9aa215450888cf29af0c479e14a712dc6b0c506cCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cbd23144f7662b00bcde32a938c4a4057e476d68CVE 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.