Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-49475 is a Linux kernel flaw in the spi-fsl-qspi driver. If a named platform resource lookup fails, the driver could dereference a null pointer and crash the system. The impact is availability, not data theft or privilege escalation based on the supplied CVSS vector.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate operational resilience issue. It is not described as remotely exploitable or data-exposing, but a kernel crash can disrupt affected systems. Patch during the next appropriate kernel maintenance window, faster for critical embedded or infrastructure hosts using this driver.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-476: missing return-value validation after platform_get_resource_byname(). A NULL return can trigger a null pointer dereference in the Linux kernel spi-fsl-qspi path. CVSS 3.1 is 5.5: local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems using the affected kernel versions and the spi-fsl-qspi driver. The source bundle lists Linux as affected, with version entries including 5.8 through 5.19-related stable lines, but does not fully describe downstream distribution package status.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not indicate CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The CVSS vector requires local access with low privileges, so internet-facing remote exploitation is not supported by the provided evidence. Practical impact would likely be local denial of service on susceptible systems.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and kernel stable references. The root cause is straightforward defensive checking after platform_get_resource_byname(). Avoid overstating exploitability: supplied data supports local denial of service only, with no confidentiality or integrity impact and no KEV signal.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a kernel or vendor package containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for exact fixed package versions.
- Prioritize systems where spi-fsl-qspi hardware or driver support is enabled.
- Apply normal change control because the fix is kernel-level.
- Monitor vendor guidance if downstream status is unclear.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across managed systems.
- Check whether the spi-fsl-qspi driver is built, loaded, or needed.
- Map installed kernels against vendor advisories and stable fix commits.
- Confirm patched kernels are booted, not only installed.
- Review local crash reports for null pointer dereferences in this driver.
Public sources used
- CVE Program
- CVE List V5
- Linux stable commit 560dcbe1c7a78f597f2167371ebdbe2bca3d0735
- Linux stable commit 10f537219629769498ecb8515e096be213224c24
- Linux stable commit 33dda87d04598ac5d9a849218a373443f7d3de66
- Linux stable commit 9d9c84825c3ec359b165c762a424cfdefe87fdd7
- Linux stable commit a2b331ac11e1cac56f5b7d367e9f3c5796deaaed
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-2022-49475 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/560dcbe1c7a78f597f2167371ebdbe2bca3d0735CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/10f537219629769498ecb8515e096be213224c24CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/33dda87d04598ac5d9a849218a373443f7d3de66CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9d9c84825c3ec359b165c762a424cfdefe87fdd7CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a2b331ac11e1cac56f5b7d367e9f3c5796deaaedCVE 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.