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CVE Record

CVE-2022-50162: wifi: libertas: Fix possible refcount leak in if_usb_probe()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: libertas: Fix possible refcount leak in if_usb_probe() usb_get_dev will be called before lbs_get_firmware_async which means that usb_put_dev need to be called when lbs_get_firmware_async fails.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-50162 is a Linux kernel driver bug in the Libertas USB Wi-Fi path. If firmware loading fails during device setup, the kernel may keep an extra USB device reference. The public record describes a resource leak, not a confirmed data breach, remote takeover, or active campaign.

Executive priority

Handle through normal kernel patch management unless asset inventory shows active use of Libertas USB Wi-Fi. There is no cited active exploitation, no CVSS score, and no source evidence of remote compromise, so emergency response is not supported by the bundle.

Technical view

In if_usb_probe(), usb_get_dev is called before lbs_get_firmware_async. If lbs_get_firmware_async fails, usb_put_dev was missing, creating a possible USB device reference-count leak. The Linux stable references are fixes across supported kernel branches; CVSS and CWE details are not provided in the bundle.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel builds with the Libertas USB Wi-Fi driver path present, especially where compatible USB Wi-Fi hardware is used. Systems without that driver or hardware are less likely to encounter the vulnerable path.

Exploitation context

The source bundle states KEV is false and provides no evidence of active exploitation. The described condition depends on a driver probe failure path, not a documented remote attack path. Practical impact is unclear from the available sources.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Linux stable commit references. The bug is a missing usb_put_dev on the firmware-load failure path after usb_get_dev. Impact assessment should remain conservative because severity, CWE, and exploitability details are not supplied.

Mitigation direction

  • Check Linux distribution vendor guidance for CVE-2022-50162.
  • Update kernels to builds containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize systems using Libertas USB Wi-Fi hardware or drivers.
  • Track kernel package changelogs for the matching stable commits.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across relevant assets.
  • Confirm whether Libertas USB Wi-Fi support is installed or enabled.
  • Verify vendor kernel updates include the referenced fix commits.
  • Review asset exposure for USB Wi-Fi use on managed systems.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

Public sources used

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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CVE-2022-50162 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
9Source links

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.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxce84bb69f50e6f6cfeabc9b965365290f4184417, ce84bb69f50e6f6cfeabc9b965365290f4184417, ce84bb69f50e6f6cfeabc9b965365290f4184417, ce84bb69f50e6f6cfeabc9b965365290f4184417, ce84bb69f50e6f6cfeabc9b965365290f4184417, ce84bb69f50e6f6cfeabc9b965365290f4184417, ce84bb69f50e6f6cfeabc9b965365290f4184417, ce84bb69f50e6f6cfeabc9b965365290f4184417unaffected
LinuxLinux3.5, 0, 4.14.291, 4.19.256, 5.4.211, 5.10.137, 5.15.61, 5.18.18, 5.19.2, 6.0affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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