Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-49908 is a Linux kernel Bluetooth memory leak. A local user with low privileges could trigger memory consumption in the affected Bluetooth path, potentially reducing system availability. The sources do not show data theft, integrity impact, remote reachability, or active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate availability risk, not an emergency remote compromise. Patch during the normal kernel maintenance cycle, faster for shared Linux hosts or systems where untrusted local users can access Bluetooth-related interfaces.
Technical view
The flaw is CWE-401 in Linux Bluetooth L2CAP handling through vhci_write. Certain ACL packet fragmentation handling can leave an skb referenced without freeing it in l2cap_recv_acldata. The fix releases the relevant skb after that processing case. CVSS is 5.5, local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, availability impact only.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems running affected kernels with Bluetooth/HCI virtual device functionality reachable by local users. The bundle lists affected Linux versions including 5.12, 5.15.78, 6.0.8, and 6.1, but distribution backport status is not provided.
Exploitation context
The provided evidence indicates syzkaller found the issue. KEV is false, and the bundle provides no evidence of in-the-wild exploitation or public weaponization. Exploitation requires local access with some privileges according to the CVSS vector.
Researcher notes
The source bundle identifies the root cause and stable commit references, but not distro package status, exact full affected version ranges, or real-world exploit evidence. Analysis should focus on local reachability of the vulnerable Bluetooth/VHCI path and whether kernel fixes are present.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for backported CVE-2022-49908 fixes.
- Limit local user access on systems where Bluetooth paths are enabled.
- Disable unnecessary Bluetooth or VHCI functionality where operationally feasible.
- Monitor memory pressure and kernel stability until patched.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions on systems with Bluetooth enabled.
- Confirm installed kernels include vendor fixes for CVE-2022-49908.
- Review whether VHCI or Bluetooth test interfaces are exposed locally.
- Validate Bluetooth functionality after applying kernel updates.
- Track vendor advisories because distribution version mapping is not included.
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-2022-49908 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/aa16cac06b752e5f609c106735bd7838f444784cCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5b4f039a2f487c5edae681d763fe1af505f84c13CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7c9524d929648935bac2bbb4c20437df8f9c3f42CVE 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.