Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel memory leak in the ath11k Wi-Fi driver setup path. If a local low-privileged user can trigger the vulnerable path on affected hardware, memory may be exhausted and availability impacted. The sources do not show data theft, integrity impact, or confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Handle through normal kernel patch management, with higher priority for shared endpoints, embedded devices, or systems where local untrusted users exist. This is not supported as internet-exploitable or actively exploited in the provided sources.
Technical view
ath11k_mhi_register() allocates an MHI controller, but on ath11k_mhi_read_addr_from_dt() failure it returned without mhi_free_controller(). The upstream fix frees the controller on that error path. CVSS 3.1 is 5.5: local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Linux systems running affected kernels with ath11k Wi-Fi/MHI driver paths in use, commonly Qualcomm ath11k wireless hardware. Distro backports are not identified in the bundle, so package-level exposure requires vendor verification.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not cite public exploitation, KEV listing, or exploit tooling. The CVSS vector indicates local, low-privileged exploitation conditions and availability impact only. Treat this as a reliability and denial-of-service risk until vendor-specific evidence says otherwise.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports CWE-401 memory leak in a specific ath11k MHI error path. Affected-version data is broad and does not map cleanly to downstream distro kernels, so validation should focus on source backports and vendor package advisories.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a vendor kernel containing the cited upstream stable fixes.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for backported fixes in supported kernels.
- Prioritize devices using ath11k Wi-Fi hardware or embedded Linux images.
- If updates are unavailable, monitor vendor guidance for temporary mitigations.
- Avoid direct wrangler or deployment changes; this is kernel maintenance work.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across laptops, appliances, and embedded devices.
- Identify systems using ath11k Wi-Fi or Qualcomm wireless hardware.
- Confirm whether deployed kernels include the referenced stable commits or distro backports.
- Review vendor security advisories for exact fixed package versions.
- Track remediation completion for systems where local users or workloads are untrusted.
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-2022-50418 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
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.