Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-50378 is a Linux kernel use-after-free in the Meson DRM display driver cleanup path. The reported trigger is driver unloading, which can cause memory corruption during deinitialization. The CVSS score is high, but exposure appears limited to systems using the affected Linux driver path with local privileges.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for affected embedded, appliance, or ARM Linux fleets. The risk is not internet-facing by itself, but kernel memory corruption can materially affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability when local access or module control exists.
Technical view
The Linux kernel Meson DRM driver deinit sequence could free resources before DRM cleanup finished. KASAN reported a use-after-free during driver unload in drm_atomic_private_obj_fini via DRM bridge and encoder cleanup. The issue is classified as CWE-416 with CVSS 3.1 7.8, AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Likely exposure
Likely exposure is Linux systems using affected Meson DRM components, especially ARM boards or devices with Amlogic Meson display hardware. The provided affected-version data is not cleanly expressed, so confirm against vendor kernel packages and the referenced stable fixes.
Exploitation context
The bundle cites a KASAN crash during module removal and does not cite active exploitation. KEV is false. The CVSS vector indicates local, low-complexity exploitation requiring low privileges and no user interaction, but no public exploit evidence is provided here.
Researcher notes
Focus triage on the Meson DRM teardown path and stable backport status. The supplied source establishes a use-after-free during driver unload, but not a remote attack path, exploit availability, or complete downstream package mapping.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a Linux kernel containing the referenced stable fixes or vendor backports.
- Check distribution or device vendor advisories for patched kernel package availability.
- Restrict local module-management privileges to trusted administrators.
- Avoid unnecessary unloading of affected display drivers until patched.
- Prioritize patching systems where local users or workloads can influence kernel modules.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux devices using Meson DRM or Amlogic Meson display hardware.
- Compare running kernel builds with vendor advisories and referenced stable commits.
- Confirm whether kernel packages include the Meson DRM deinit ordering fix.
- Review logs for KASAN or kernel warnings during Meson DRM driver removal.
- Track remediation evidence by device model, kernel build, and patch source.
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-416: 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-2022-50378 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.
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:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d76ff04a72f90767455059c8239b06042cd0ed23CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9190d287f7a6b02b50b510045b0edf448ed68e88CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9d33348513c36337f91f1991da23f41514d4de39CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/31c519981eb141c7ec39bfd5be25d35f02edb868CVE reference
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.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.