Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel issue is a memory leak in the Marvell Prestera network driver. If a specific initialization step fails, allocated memory is not released. The main business risk is local availability impact on systems using this driver, not data theft or remote compromise based on the supplied CVSS vector.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted kernel maintenance issue, not an emergency internet-wide exposure. Patch during normal security update windows, faster for appliances or network systems using Marvell Prestera hardware where availability matters.
Technical view
CVE-2022-49857 fixes a CWE-401 memory leak in prestera_rxtx_switch_init(). When prestera_sdma_switch_init() fails, sw->rxtx is not freed. The CVSS 3.1 vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, with high availability impact and no confidentiality or integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel builds where the Marvell Prestera driver is present and relevant. The provided affected data names Linux versions including 5.10, 5.10.155, 5.15.79, 6.0.9, and 6.1, but distribution backports require local verification.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or any cited evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates local access with low privileges is required. The description also notes the fix was compiled but not tested, which reduces certainty about real-world behavior.
Researcher notes
The available evidence is narrow: a kernel memory leak fix on an initialization failure path, CVSS 5.5, CWE-401, and stable commit references. No exploit details, active exploitation, or product-specific distribution status are provided in the bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Apply vendor or distribution kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Prioritize systems using Marvell Prestera networking hardware or the prestera driver.
- Check distribution advisories for backported fixes before relying on upstream version numbers.
- If patching is delayed, follow vendor guidance for driver-specific operational mitigations.
Validation and detection
- Inventory kernels and identify systems with Marvell Prestera driver support or loaded modules.
- Compare installed kernel packages against vendor advisories and the referenced stable commits.
- Confirm patched builds include the memory-release fix for prestera_rxtx_switch_init().
- Monitor affected systems for unexplained memory pressure or availability degradation.
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-401: 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-2022-49857 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/5333cf1b7f6861912aff6263978d4781f9858e47CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/409731df6310a33f4d0a3ef594d2410cdcd637f2CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/31e5084ac6876e52dbb0a1cc4fc18b6c79979f31CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/519b58bbfa825f042fcf80261cc18e1e35f85ffdCVE 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.