Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-49455 is a Linux kernel double-free flaw in the ocxl AFU registration cleanup path. A local low-privileged user could potentially affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability on vulnerable systems. The bundle provides upstream stable fixes but does not identify affected distributions or active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for Linux environments where local users or shared workloads exist. The risk is lower for systems without the affected ocxl exposure, but incomplete distribution data means vulnerability management should verify vendor status promptly.
Technical view
The flaw is CWE-415 in ocxl_file_register_afu. During error cleanup, device_unregister() can already trigger info_release() when the device reference count reaches zero, so additional ocxl_afu_put() and kfree() calls can free the same object again. The fix adds free_minor() and returns through the err_unregister path.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the ocxl code present and reachable by local authenticated users. The source bundle lists Linux kernel versions including 5.2 through 5.19-era entries, but downstream distro backports are not stated.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, with high impact. The bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation or public weaponization.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a kernel memory-management bug fixed upstream. The source bundle does not provide proof-of-concept details, exploit telemetry, affected distribution packages, or non-Linux products. Avoid assuming exposure outside Linux ocxl-related code paths without vendor confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Apply vendor kernel updates that include the upstream ocxl double-free fix.
- Check distribution advisories for backported fixes before judging by version alone.
- Prioritize multi-user, shared compute, and privileged workload hosts for assessment.
- If patching is delayed, request vendor-supported compensating controls.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across potentially affected hosts.
- Confirm whether the ocxl kernel component is present on those systems.
- Map findings to vendor advisories and the listed upstream stable commits.
- Verify patched builds include the referenced ocxl_file_register_afu cleanup fix.
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-415: 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-2022-49455 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/de65c32ace9aa70d51facc61ba986607075e3a25CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee89d8dee55ab4b3b8ad8b70866b2841ba334767CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8fb674216835e1f0c143762696d645facebb4685CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/252768d32e92c1214aeebb5fec0844ca479bcf5cCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9e9087cf34ee69f4e95d146ac29385d6e367a97bCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/950cf957fe34d40d63dfa3bf3968210430b6491eCVE 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.
Double Free
Double Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.