CVE-2022-48632
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a stack buffer overflow vulnerability in the Linux kernel's i2c-mlxbf driver. An attacker could exploit this to crash the system or potentially execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Systems using Mellanox BlueField SoCs with vulnerable kernel versions are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with i2c-mlxbf driver
📦 What is this software?
Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Local privilege escalation to kernel mode, complete system compromise, or persistent denial of service.
Likely Case
Kernel panic leading to system crash and denial of service.
If Mitigated
System crash requiring reboot if exploit attempts are detected and contained.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access and knowledge of driver interaction. No public exploits known at this time.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Patches available in stable kernel trees (commits referenced in CVE)
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3b5ab5fbe69ebbee5692c72b05071a43fc0655d8
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update to a patched kernel version from your distribution vendor. 2. Reboot the system to load the new kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable i2c-mlxbf module
linuxPrevent loading of the vulnerable driver module
echo 'blacklist i2c-mlxbf' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
rmmod i2c-mlxbf
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict local user access to systems with vulnerable kernels
- Implement strict privilege separation and monitoring for local users
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if i2c-mlxbf module is loaded: lsmod | grep i2c_mlxbfCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version is updated and i2c-mlxbf module version matches patched version📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel oops messages
- System crash/panic logs
- Unexpected i2c driver errors
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local exploit
SIEM Query:
Search for kernel panic events or i2c driver crash logs🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3b5ab5fbe69ebbee5692c72b05071a43fc0655d8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/48ee0a864d1af02eea98fc825cc230d61517a71e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dc2a0c587006f29b724069740c48654b9dcaebd2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/de24aceb07d426b6f1c59f33889d6a964770547b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3b5ab5fbe69ebbee5692c72b05071a43fc0655d8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/48ee0a864d1af02eea98fc825cc230d61517a71e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dc2a0c587006f29b724069740c48654b9dcaebd2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/de24aceb07d426b6f1c59f33889d6a964770547b
