Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-49498 is a Linux kernel ALSA PCM bug where code could dereference a null substream pointer. The rated impact is availability only: a local user with low privileges could potentially crash the kernel. There is no sourced evidence of data theft, privilege escalation, remote attack, or active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a routine availability patch, not an emergency remote compromise issue. Prioritize patching where local users or untrusted workloads can interact with the kernel audio subsystem, especially shared Linux systems.
Technical view
The flaw is a CWE-476 null pointer dereference in ALSA PCM handling. The kernel dereferenced substream to assign card before checking substream with PCM_RUNTIME_CHECK. CVSS 3.1 is 5.5, local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high availability impact only.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with local low-privilege access. The source bundle identifies Linux kernel versions around 5.6 through 5.19 and stable fixes, but distribution-specific package status must be checked with vendor advisories.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or any cited evidence of exploitation in the wild. Based on CVSS, exploitation requires local access and is expected to affect availability rather than confidentiality or integrity.
Researcher notes
Analysis is constrained to the CVE record and Linux stable commit references. The record describes a null-check ordering fix, not a weaponized attack path. Affected-version data appears broad, so distribution kernel advisories are needed for precise fleet decisions.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Linux distribution kernel updates containing the ALSA PCM null-pointer fix.
- Check vendor guidance if no patched kernel package is currently available.
- Prioritize shared systems, developer workstations, and hosts running untrusted local workloads.
- Avoid custom backports unless the referenced stable kernel commits are reviewed.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across managed hosts.
- Compare installed packages with vendor advisories for CVE-2022-49498.
- Confirm patched kernels include the ALSA PCM substream null-check change.
- Review local access exposure on systems that cannot be patched promptly.
Public sources used
- CVE Program
- CVE List V5
- Linux stable commit b2421a196cb0911ea95aec1050a0b830464c8fa6
- Linux stable commit f2c68c52898f623fe84518da4606538d193b0cca
- Linux stable commit 7784d22f81a29df2ec57ca90d54f93a35cbcd1a2
- Linux stable commit 1f2e28857be1e5c7db39bbc221332215fc5467e3
- Linux stable commit b41ef7ad9238c22aa2e142f5ce4ce1a1a0d48123
- Linux stable commit 011b559be832194f992f73d6c0d5485f5925a10b
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-2022-49498 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/b2421a196cb0911ea95aec1050a0b830464c8fa6CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f2c68c52898f623fe84518da4606538d193b0ccaCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7784d22f81a29df2ec57ca90d54f93a35cbcd1a2CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1f2e28857be1e5c7db39bbc221332215fc5467e3CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b41ef7ad9238c22aa2e142f5ce4ce1a1a0d48123CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/011b559be832194f992f73d6c0d5485f5925a10bCVE 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.