CVE-2022-49817
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a memory leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel's MHI (Mobile Host Interface) network driver. When network devices are unregistered, the driver fails to properly free allocated memory, causing gradual memory exhaustion. This affects systems using the MHI driver for cellular modem connectivity.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with MHI network driver enabled
📦 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Sustained exploitation could lead to complete system memory exhaustion, causing kernel panic, system crashes, or denial of service on affected devices.
Likely Case
Gradual memory depletion over time leading to performance degradation, application failures, or system instability requiring reboots.
If Mitigated
With proper memory monitoring and restart policies, impact is limited to occasional performance issues rather than complete system failure.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires ability to trigger network device unregistration operations, typically requiring local access or specific driver interactions.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Fixed in kernel commits: 25a270343b0f, 88da008e5e2f, f7c125bd79f5
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/25a270343b0f16e1f6e65f541a15975a35e238ff
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. For distributions: Use package manager (apt/yum/dnf) to update kernel. 3. Reboot system to load new kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable MHI driver
linuxPrevent loading of vulnerable MHI network driver module
echo 'blacklist mhi_net' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-mhi.conf
rmmod mhi_net
Monitor memory usage
linuxImplement aggressive memory monitoring and alerting for systems using MHI driver
# Configure monitoring tools like Nagios, Zabbix, or custom scripts to track memory usage
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict memory usage monitoring with automated alerts for abnormal consumption
- Restrict access to network device management operations to prevent triggering the vulnerability
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if MHI driver is loaded: 'lsmod | grep mhi_net' and check kernel version against patched versionsCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes fix commits and test network device unregistration while monitoring memory usage📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel oom-killer messages
- System log entries showing memory exhaustion
- MHI driver error messages
Network Indicators:
- Unusual network device state changes in systems with cellular modems
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("out of memory" OR "oom-killer" OR "mhi_net")