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CVE Record

CVE-2022-49889: ring-buffer: Check for NULL cpu_buffer in ring_buffer_wake_waiters()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ring-buffer: Check for NULL cpu_buffer in ring_buffer_wake_waiters() On some machines the number of listed CPUs may be bigger than the actual CPUs that exist. The tracing subsystem allocates a per_cpu directory with access to the per CPU ring buffer via a cpuX file. But to save space, the ring buffer will only allocate buffers for online CPUs, even though the CPU array will be as big as the nr_cpu_ids. With the addition of waking waiters on the ring buffer when closing the file, the ring_buffer_wake_waiters() now needs to make sure that the buffer is allocated (with the irq_work allocated with it) before trying to wake waiters, as it will cause a NULL pointer dereference. While debugging this, I added a NULL check for the buffer itself (which is OK to do), and also NULL pointer checks against buffer->buffers (which is not fine, and will WARN) as well as making sure the CPU number passed in is within the nr_cpu_ids (which is also not fine if it isn't). Bugzilla: https://bugzilla.opensuse.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1204705

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel availability bug in the tracing ring buffer. A local low-privileged user could trigger a NULL pointer dereference on affected systems, potentially crashing the kernel or disrupting service. The sources do not indicate data theft, data modification, remote attack, or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate availability risk, highest for shared Linux hosts and systems with untrusted local users. It does not appear remotely exploitable from the supplied evidence, but kernel crash potential warrants normal patch-cycle remediation.

Technical view

ring_buffer_wake_waiters() could dereference a missing per-CPU ring buffer when listed CPU IDs exceed allocated online CPU buffers. The CVE maps to CWE-476 and CVSS 3.1 score 5.5: local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, availability impact only.

Likely exposure

Exposure is mainly Linux systems running kernel builds that include the vulnerable tracing ring-buffer behavior before the referenced stable fixes or vendor backports. The bundle does not provide distribution package names, CPEs, or a complete affected-version matrix.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied data, and no cited source reports active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates local, low-privileged exploitation with high availability impact and no confidentiality or integrity impact.

Researcher notes

The root issue is missing NULL handling for unallocated cpu_buffer data when waking ring-buffer waiters. The interesting validation point is CPU topology mismatch versus allocated online CPU buffers. Evidence is limited to the CVE text and kernel stable commit references.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced stable commits or equivalent backports.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for exact fixed package versions.
  • Prioritize multi-user systems where untrusted local users have shell or workload access.
  • If patching is delayed, review vendor guidance for tracing subsystem exposure controls.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and vendor package release levels across affected fleets.
  • Confirm fixed stable commits or distribution backports are present in deployed kernels.
  • Review crash logs for kernel NULL pointer dereference events involving ring buffer tracing.
  • Verify vulnerability scanners use vendor advisories, not only upstream kernel version strings.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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 · low confidence lookup

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 lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2022-49889 mapping review

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Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
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

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
4Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

5.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2022-49889Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux2475de2bc0de17fb1b24c5e90194f84b5ca70d3e, f4f15344110d0b5b8822ac97bc8200e71939c945, f3ddb74ad0790030c9592229fb14d8c451f4e9a8, 5544f411a4e8bc39e6a444badbac37dd0e0caf0a, 5.19.17unaffected
LinuxLinux5.15.75, 6.0.3unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-476 · source CWE mapping

NULL Pointer Dereference

NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.