Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-50408 is a Linux kernel flaw in the Broadcom brcmfmac Wi-Fi driver. A network transmit path can read packet memory after it has already been freed. On affected systems, this is treated as high severity because successful local exploitation could impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority kernel maintenance item for Linux fleets with Broadcom Wi-Fi. It is not evidenced as actively exploited in the provided sources, but kernel memory-safety flaws with high CIA impact should not remain open on user-accessible or unmanaged devices.
Technical view
The bug is a CWE-416 use-after-free in brcmf_netdev_start_xmit(). The source shows skb memory can be freed during brcmf_proto_tx_queue_data() completion before later code reads skb->len for transmit statistics. CVSS is 7.8: local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, high CIA impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using Broadcom fullmac Wi-Fi through the brcmfmac driver and running affected kernel versions. Systems without this driver, without Broadcom Wi-Fi, or already carrying the referenced stable fixes are less likely exposed. Exact exposure should be confirmed against distribution or device-vendor kernel builds.
Exploitation context
The bundle marks CISA KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation is local and requires low privileges, not remote unauthenticated access. The provided evidence is a kernel bug report and stable fix references, not exploit availability.
Researcher notes
The source evidence identifies a race-like lifetime issue around skb handling in brcmfmac transmit completion. Affected-version metadata is incomplete in the prompt, so validate exact fixed and vulnerable ranges through Linux stable commits and downstream vendor kernels before declaring exposure.
Mitigation direction
- Apply a vendor kernel update containing the referenced brcmfmac stable fixes.
- Check distribution or device-vendor advisories for exact fixed kernel builds.
- Prioritize patching systems with Broadcom Wi-Fi enabled or brcmfmac loaded.
- Reboot into the fixed kernel after patching, following normal change controls.
- Retire or isolate unsupported kernels that cannot receive the fix.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux hosts and devices for loaded brcmfmac modules.
- Confirm kernel versions against vendor advisories and referenced stable commits.
- Review kernel logs for brcmf_netdev_start_xmit or KASAN use-after-free reports.
- Verify patched systems are running the fixed kernel after reboot.
- Track KEV and vendor advisories for any later exploitation updates.
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-2022-50408 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/1613a7b24f1a7467cb727ba3ec77c9a808383560CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d79f4d903e14dde822c60b5fd3bedc5a289d25dfCVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/49c742afd60f552fce7799287080db02bffe1db2CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e01d96494a9de0f48b1167f0494f6d929fa773edCVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/232d59eca07f6ea27307022a33d226aff373bd02CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/27574a3f421c3a1694d0207f37c6bbf23d66978eCVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c369836cff98d3877f98c98e15c0151462812d96CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3f42faf6db431e04bf942d2ebe3ae88975723478CVE 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.