Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel Wi-Fi subsystem memory leak. A local low-privileged user could potentially cause repeated failed firmware lookups that leak kernel memory, creating availability risk. It does not indicate data theft or remote compromise in the provided sources.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate availability issue. It is not remote code execution, but shared Linux endpoints or appliances with local user access should be patched through normal kernel maintenance cycles.
Technical view
In cfg80211 query_regdb_file(), alpha2 is duplicated with kmemdup() and normally freed in regdb_fw_cb(). If request_firmware_nowait() fails before invoking that callback, the allocation is not freed, producing a CWE-401 memory leak with availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems using affected kernel versions with cfg80211 Wi-Fi regulatory database handling. Downstream distribution kernels may differ, so validate against vendor backports and the listed upstream stable commits.
Exploitation context
The provided CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, availability-only. The source bundle marks KEV as false and provides no evidence of active exploitation or public weaponization.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description, CVSS data, and kernel stable references. The exact vulnerable version ranges and downstream package status require vendor-specific verification before declaring exposure.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade to a kernel containing the referenced upstream stable fix commits.
- Check distribution security advisories for backported fixes matching CVE-2022-49881.
- Prioritize systems where untrusted local users can run code.
- Monitor affected systems for memory pressure until patched.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, workstations, and appliances.
- Map each kernel to vendor advisories or the referenced stable commits.
- Identify systems using Wi-Fi/cfg80211 functionality where local users have access.
- Confirm patch deployment through package metadata or kernel build provenance.
Public sources used
- CVE Program
- CVE List V5
- Linux stable commit 219446396786330937bcd382a7bc4ccd767383bc
- Linux stable commit 0ede1a988299e95d54bd89551fd635980572e920
- Linux stable commit e1e12180321f416d83444f2cdc9259e0f5093d35
- Linux stable commit 38c9fa2cc6bf4b6e1a74057aef8b5cffd23d3264
- Linux stable commit e9b5a4566d5bc71cc901be50d1fa24da00613120
- Linux stable commit 57b962e627ec0ae53d4d16d7bd1033e27e67677a
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-2022-49881 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/219446396786330937bcd382a7bc4ccd767383bcCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0ede1a988299e95d54bd89551fd635980572e920CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e1e12180321f416d83444f2cdc9259e0f5093d35CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/38c9fa2cc6bf4b6e1a74057aef8b5cffd23d3264CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e9b5a4566d5bc71cc901be50d1fa24da00613120CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/57b962e627ec0ae53d4d16d7bd1033e27e67677aCVE 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.