Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-49639 is a Linux kernel race condition in CIPSO sysctl handling. A local user could potentially trigger an availability impact under difficult conditions. It is not marked in CISA KEV, and the provided sources do not show active exploitation. Business urgency is moderate, mainly for systems allowing local user access on affected kernels.
Executive priority
Treat as a routine but important Linux kernel maintenance item. It is not a confirmed internet-facing or actively exploited issue in the provided sources, but local availability impact on shared systems can still affect operations.
Technical view
The Linux kernel CIPSO code read sysctl variables while they could be changed concurrently. The fix adds READ_ONCE() to avoid data races. The CVSS 3.1 vector is 4.7: local attack, high complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, unchanged scope, availability impact only. CWE is CWE-362.
Likely exposure
Exposure applies to Linux systems running affected kernel versions listed in the CVE record. The issue is in CIPSO sysctl code; the provided sources do not fully define which configurations are practically reachable. Prioritize multi-user Linux hosts and systems using CIPSO/NetLabel-related functionality.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires local access, low privileges, and high attack complexity. Impact is availability only, with no stated confidentiality or integrity impact. CISA KEV status is false, and the supplied sources do not report public exploitation.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and upstream stable commits. The CVE describes a data race fixed by READ_ONCE() around CIPSO sysctl reads. No exploit details, operational indicators, or distribution-specific fixed package versions are provided in the source bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for backported fixes for CVE-2022-49639.
- Prioritize remediation on multi-user or shared Linux systems.
- If immediate patching is not possible, reduce unnecessary local user access.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, endpoints, and appliances.
- Compare installed kernels with vendor advisories for CVE-2022-49639.
- Confirm deployed kernels include the relevant upstream stable fix commits.
- Review whether CIPSO or NetLabel-related functionality is enabled or required.
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-362: 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-2022-49639 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
- 4.7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H13.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.7MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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/2764f82bbc158d106693ae3ced3675cf4b963b35CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c321e99d2725d11f7e6a4ebd9ce752259f0bae81CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ca26ca5e2f3eeb3e6fe699cd6effa3b4b2aa8698CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0e41a0f73ccb9be112a80bde3804a771633caaefCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fe2a35fa2c4f9c8ce5ef970eb927031387f9446aCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/07b0caf8aeb9b82e6ecc6c292a3e47c7fcdb1148CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/59e26906b89cc35bb54476498772b45cbc32323fCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dd44f04b9214adb68ef5684ae87a81ba03632250CVE 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.
Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.