CVE-2022-49208
📋 TL;DR
This CVE addresses an integer underflow vulnerability in the Linux kernel's RDMA/irdma driver. If exploited, it could lead to kernel memory corruption or system instability. Systems using InfiniBand RDMA hardware with the irdma driver are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with irdma RDMA 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic, system crash, or potential privilege escalation leading to full system compromise.
Likely Case
System instability, crashes, or denial of service affecting RDMA functionality.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper kernel hardening and isolation of RDMA interfaces.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires access to RDMA interface and ability to trigger specific driver initialization paths.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Fixed in Linux kernel commits: 6f6dbb819dfc1a35bcb8b709b5c83a3ea8beff75, 7340c3675d7ac946f4019b84cd7c64ed542dfe4c, d52dab6e03550f9c97121b0c11c0a3ed78ee76a4, f21056f15bbeacab7b4b87af232f5599d1f2bff1
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f6dbb819dfc1a35bcb8b709b5c83a3ea8beff75
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. Reboot system. 3. Verify kernel version and that irdma module loads correctly.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable irdma module
linuxPrevent loading of vulnerable driver if RDMA functionality is not required
echo 'blacklist irdma' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-irdma.conf
rmmod irdma
Restrict RDMA network access
linuxLimit RDMA interface exposure using network segmentation and firewall rules
iptables -A INPUT -p ib -j DROP
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=trusted --remove-interface=ib0
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network segmentation for RDMA interfaces
- Monitor system logs for kernel panics or RDMA driver errors
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and if irdma module is loaded: lsmod | grep irdma && uname -rCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version is patched and irdma module loads without errors in dmesg📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- RDMA driver initialization failures in dmesg
- System crash reports
Network Indicators:
- Unusual RDMA traffic patterns
- Connection attempts to RDMA ports
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("panic" OR "irdma" OR "RDMA")