Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel issue can leak memory in the i.MX SDMA driver when a transfer setup failure occurs. The main business risk is local availability impact on systems using the affected driver, not data theft or remote compromise.
Executive priority
Handle through normal kernel patch management, with higher priority for embedded or operational systems using i.MX SDMA. This is not evidenced as remotely exploitable or actively exploited, but availability impact can matter on constrained or critical devices.
Technical view
In sdma_transfer_init, if sdma_load_context() fails, sdma_desc is freed but desc->bd is not. This is CWE-401 and has CVSS 5.5: local attack vector, low privileges, no confidentiality or integrity impact, and high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel branches with the imx-sdma DMA controller driver enabled or used. The source lists Linux kernel versions and stable commit references, but does not identify specific distributions or appliances.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not marked KEV, and the provided sources do not report active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires local access and low privileges, with the expected consequence being availability degradation through memory leakage.
Researcher notes
The important code path is sdma_transfer_init error handling after sdma_load_context() failure. The fix frees desc->bd before freeing the descriptor. Evidence is sufficient for root cause and impact class, but the provided sources do not establish real-world exploit activity.
Mitigation direction
- Update affected Linux kernels through supported vendor or distribution packages.
- Verify the update includes one of the referenced stable kernel fixes.
- Prioritize systems using imx-sdma or i.MX DMA controller functionality.
- If no package is available, monitor kernel and vendor guidance for backports.
Validation and detection
- Inventory kernel versions against the affected versions listed in the CVE record.
- Check whether the imx-sdma driver or matching DMA controller is present.
- Review system logs for sdma_load_context failure indicators such as CH0 timeout messages.
- Confirm the running kernel includes the applicable stable fix commit.
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
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CWE-401: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-49746 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/80ee99e52936b2c04cc37b17a14b2ae2f9d282acCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dbe634ce824329d8f14079c3e9f8f11670894becCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd0050b7ffa87c7b260d563646af612f4112a778CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/43acd767bd90c5d4172ce7fee5d9007a9a08dea9CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ce4745a6b8016fae74c95dcd457d4ceef7d98af1CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1417f59ac0b02130ee56c0c50794b9b257be3d17CVE 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.
Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.