Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-49472 is a Linux kernel availability issue in the Micrel PHY network driver. A null pointer dereference can occur during driver probing when driver data is missing, potentially causing a local denial of service. The source data does not indicate remote compromise, data theft, or active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a scheduled patching item, not an emergency. Prioritize systems where kernel crashes would disrupt operations, especially appliances or embedded network devices using affected Linux kernels.
Technical view
The flaw is CWE-476 in the Linux kernel net/phy Micrel driver. When phy_driver includes .probe but lacks .driver_data, code dereferences missing private type data. The fix adds NULL checks for priv->type. CVSS is 5.5: local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, high availability impact only.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel versions or downstream backports containing the vulnerable Micrel PHY driver behavior. Practical relevance depends on kernel version, vendor backports, and whether the affected driver path can be reached on the system.
Exploitation context
The bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector requires local access with low privileges. Impact is limited to availability; the sources do not support confidentiality or integrity impact.
Researcher notes
Evidence is narrow and kernel-specific. The source bundle identifies the root cause and stable commit references, but not distribution-specific fixed versions, affected configurations, or real-world exploit activity. Avoid assuming remote reachability without environment evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a Linux kernel build containing the referenced stable fixes or equivalent vendor backport.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for package-specific fixed kernel versions.
- Prioritize embedded, appliance, and network-facing systems using Micrel PHY hardware or drivers.
- Apply normal local access hardening while patching is scheduled.
Validation and detection
- Inventory running Linux kernel versions against the affected versions in the CVE record.
- Confirm vendor kernel packages include one referenced commit or an equivalent backport.
- Review kernel configuration and hardware inventory for Micrel PHY driver relevance.
- Check crash reports for null pointer dereferences during Micrel PHY probing.
Public sources used
- CVE Program
- CVE List V5
- Kernel stable commit 7dcb404662839a4ed1a9703658fee979eb894ca4
- Kernel stable commit 91e720b32cba25fa58eaa4c88fe957009cffe9f3
- Kernel stable commit 1e5fbfc2a6f384e3195446c14bbd3bc298eb88c2
- Kernel stable commit abb5594ae2ba7b82cce85917cc6337ec5d774837
- Kernel stable commit 660dfa033ccc9afb032015b6dc76e846bba42cfb
- Kernel stable commit 143878e18001c5a61fcc7ae5c5240323753bb641
- Kernel stable commit bd219273b4e004a3f853da72e111fc8f81357501
- Kernel stable commit f2ef6f7539c68c6bd6c32323d8845ee102b7c450
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-476: 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-2022-49472 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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/7dcb404662839a4ed1a9703658fee979eb894ca4CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/91e720b32cba25fa58eaa4c88fe957009cffe9f3CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1e5fbfc2a6f384e3195446c14bbd3bc298eb88c2CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/abb5594ae2ba7b82cce85917cc6337ec5d774837CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/660dfa033ccc9afb032015b6dc76e846bba42cfbCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/143878e18001c5a61fcc7ae5c5240323753bb641CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd219273b4e004a3f853da72e111fc8f81357501CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f2ef6f7539c68c6bd6c32323d8845ee102b7c450CVE 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.
NULL Pointer Dereference
NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.