Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-49538 is a Linux kernel availability flaw in the ALSA jack path used with ASoC audio. A local authenticated user could trigger a kernel NULL pointer dereference, potentially crashing the system. There is no source evidence of active exploitation or remote exposure.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate patching item. It is not a remote compromise issue based on supplied evidence, but local denial of service can still disrupt endpoints or shared systems. Fold remediation into normal kernel update cycles unless local-user risk is high.
Technical view
The issue is a CWE-476 NULL pointer dereference in Linux ALSA jack handling. During snd_jack_report, input_dev could be unregistered concurrently, so the fix serializes access with a mutex. CVSS 3.1 is 5.5: local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, high availability impact only.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with ALSA/ASoC audio functionality. The bundle lists Linux kernel versions including 3.13 and multiple stable lines through 5.19 as affected. Product-specific distribution backport status is not provided.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates local, low-privilege exploitation with no user interaction. The likely outcome is denial of service through a kernel crash. KEV is false, and the provided sources do not claim active exploitation, public weaponization, or remote attack paths.
Researcher notes
The source record describes a race between input_dev unregistration and snd_jack_report. Validation should focus on kernel provenance and backport status, not only upstream version strings. Evidence is incomplete for distribution-specific affected ranges and any exploit availability.
Mitigation direction
- Apply the appropriate vendor kernel update containing the ALSA jack mutex fix.
- Track Linux distribution advisories for backported fixes and corrected package versions.
- Prioritize patching shared workstations, kiosks, and systems with untrusted local users.
- If patch timing is unclear, request vendor confirmation for CVE-2022-49538 coverage.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected fleets.
- Confirm whether vendor kernels include one of the referenced stable fixes.
- Check whether ALSA/ASoC audio functionality is present on exposed systems.
- Review crash logs for ALSA jack or snd_jack_report NULL dereference patterns.
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-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-2022-49538 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/74bab3bcf422593c582e47130aa8eb41ebb2dc09CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8487a88136d54a1a4d3f26f1399685db648ab879CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c093b62c40027c21d649c5534ad7aa3605a99b00CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f68bed124c7699e23ffb4ce4fcc84671e9193cdeCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e2b8681769f6e205382f026b907d28aa5ec9d59aCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5cc6f623f4818c7d7e9e966a45ebf324901ca9c5CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9e6a73b0c0f2014eb89249fb1640c5a3d58221c4CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/582aea6084cc59fec881204f026816d1219f2348CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1b6a6fc5280e97559287b61eade2d4b363e836f2CVE 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.