Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel issue affects the rtw89 wireless driver. Bad hardware-reported MAC IDs can cause an out-of-bounds array access, risking memory corruption in kernel context. Business impact is highest for Linux endpoints or appliances using affected rtw89 Wi-Fi support.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue for Linux fleets with rtw89 Wi-Fi. It is not KEV-listed, but kernel memory corruption with high CVSS impact justifies timely patching.
Technical view
CVE-2022-49471 is a CWE-129 bounds-check flaw in rtw89 PHY CFO parsing. The source reports index 188 used against a 64-entry s32 array in interrupt receive handling. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8 with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Linux systems using affected kernel versions with the rtw89 driver active. The bundle lists Linux 5.16 through 5.19-related affected entries, but distribution backports may change exposure.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show active exploitation, and KEV is false. CVSS classifies exploitation as local with low privileges and no user interaction. No public exploit details are provided in the bundle.
Researcher notes
The public record describes the fix as validating mac_id before array access. Evidence is strongest for the bug class and code area, but sparse on real-world trigger conditions, attacker control, and distribution-specific affected ranges.
Mitigation direction
- Apply vendor or distribution kernel updates containing the rtw89 bounds check fix.
- Prioritize Linux endpoints using Realtek rtw89 wireless hardware or modules.
- Review kernel vendor advisories before assuming upstream version numbers map directly to exposure.
- If patching is delayed, evaluate disabling unused rtw89 Wi-Fi functionality.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux hosts with the rtw89 driver or Realtek rtw89 Wi-Fi hardware.
- Confirm running kernels include the referenced stable fix or a distro backport.
- Check kernel logs for UBSAN out-of-bounds reports in rtw89/phy.c.
- Track affected systems until patched kernels are deployed and rebooted.
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-129: 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-2022-49471 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/03ed236480aeec8c2fd327a1ea6d711364c495e3CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c32fafe68298bb599e825c298e1d0ba30186f0a5CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/97df85871a5b187609d30fca6d85b912d9e02f29CVE 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.
Improper Validation of Array Index
Improper Validation of Array Index represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.