Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-50387 is a Linux kernel memory leak in the hinic network driver. If a local privileged user triggers the affected failure path, system memory may not be released correctly, potentially reducing availability. It is not described as a data theft or integrity issue.
Executive priority
Treat as routine but real availability risk. Prioritize patching for Linux servers using the hinic driver, especially production systems where local user access exists. It does not currently warrant emergency response based on the provided evidence.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-401 in net/hinic CMDQ initialization. When hinic_set_cmdq_depth() fails inside hinic_init_cmdqs(), CMDQ memory is not released correctly. The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel builds with the hinic driver present or usable. The source identifies Linux kernel fixes across stable branches, but does not provide distribution-specific package names or appliance guidance.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not report active exploitation, and KEV is false. Exploitation requires local access and low privileges according to CVSS. Available evidence supports denial-of-service risk through memory exhaustion, not confidentiality or integrity compromise.
Researcher notes
Focus validation on the hinic CMDQ initialization error path and stable-branch backports. The public description is concise; it confirms the leak and fix direction but does not include exploit details, distribution mappings, or observed attacks.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a Linux kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for backported fixes and package names.
- Prioritize systems where the hinic driver is loaded or hardware is present.
- If patching is delayed, review vendor guidance for driver-specific mitigations.
Validation and detection
- Inventory kernel versions against the CVE record and referenced stable commits.
- Check whether the hinic driver is present, loaded, or required.
- Confirm patched kernel packages include the CMDQ memory leak fix.
- Monitor affected systems for abnormal memory pressure or availability symptoms.
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-2022-50387 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.
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:H1.83.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability 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
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6603843c80b16957f5d7d14d897faf13cef2b8b9CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6016d96a6adf66d61655d85da02e1a4c1deccbd6CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9145d512ddff76df88832b29575488199df544a1CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/363cc87767f6ddcfb9158ad2e2afa2f8d5c4b94eCVE 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.
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.