Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-50656 is a Linux kernel NFC driver bug. The pn533 driver may use uninitialized target data, causing an out-of-bounds read in kernel memory handling. Business urgency is highest for systems using NFC hardware or kernels with this driver enabled. No public source here indicates active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted kernel maintenance issue, not an internet-scale emergency. Patch during normal security update cycles, faster where NFC is used in endpoints, embedded devices, kiosks, or physical-access workflows.
Technical view
The issue is in Linux kernel NFC pn533 handling. An nfc_target structure was not cleared before use, leaving garbage values such as an excessive sensb_res_len. This can trigger a slab-out-of-bounds read in nla_put() through nfc_genl_send_target()/nfc_genl_dump_targets(). The fix initializes nfc_target with memset().
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the NFC pn533 driver present or enabled. Servers without NFC hardware or NFC kernel support are less likely to be exposed. The source bundle lists affected Linux versions but does not provide a CVSS score.
Exploitation context
The bug was found by a modified syzkaller fuzzer. The provided sources do not show KEV listing, active exploitation, public exploit code, or confirmed real-world attacks. Practical exploitability is not established in the provided evidence.
Researcher notes
Evidence is incomplete: no CVSS, CWE, or vendor exploitation assessment is provided. The source describes an out-of-bounds read and stable kernel commits fixing initialization. Avoid assuming privilege escalation or remote exploitability without additional vendor or researcher confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a Linux kernel or distribution package containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Prioritize systems with NFC hardware, pn533 support, or exposed NFC functionality.
- If immediate patching is not possible, review vendor guidance for disabling unused NFC support.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected assets.
- Check whether NFC and pn533 driver support is enabled or loaded.
- Confirm the running kernel includes the relevant stable commit for its branch.
- Track distribution advisories for backported fixes and package status.
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.
CVE-2022-50656 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
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
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 and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9da4a0411f3455e3885831d0758bee3e3d565bbcCVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/61a7e15d55fae329a245535c3bac494e401005b8CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bef2f478513e7367ef3b05441f6afca981de29beCVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8bddef54cbe9ede5ac7478f1e1e968fcfe7e6f03CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aea9e64dec2cc6cd742e07ecd4e6236fc76b389bCVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aae9c24ebd901f482e6c88b6f9e0c80dc5b536d6CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/755019e37815a66bb0a23893debbd3dd640ccbd3CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e491285b4d08884b622638be8e4961eb43b0af64CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9f28157778ede0d4f183f7ab3b46995bb400abbeCVE 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.
