CVE-2022-49523

Kernel crash via premature spectral ring cleanup

Published Feb 26, 2025 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel ath11k before 5.19 allows local users to crash the kernel during module removal. ath11k_spectral_deinit cleans the spectral DMA ring before telling firmware to disable spectral scanning, leaving incoming data processing to access torn-down state. Reaching the flaw requires privileges to remove the ath11k module, enabled spectral scanning, and compatible Qualcomm wireless hardware.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel ath11k before 5.19 allows local users to crash the kernel during module removal. ath11k_spectral_deinit cleans the spectral DMA ring before telling firmware to disable spectral scanning, leaving incoming data processing to access torn-down state. Reaching the flaw requires privileges to remove the ath11k module, enabled spectral scanning, and compatible Qualcomm wireless hardware.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-49523
Published
Feb 26, 2025
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 26, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 15, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.9
  2. Affected versionversion=9d11b7bff9508101d05f06e461ab81b5f0dc90ae <161c64de239c7018e0295e7e0520a19f00aa32dc
  3. Affected versionversion=9d11b7bff9508101d05f06e461ab81b5f0dc90ae <451b9076903a057b7b8d5b24dc84b3e436a1c743
  4. Affected versionversion=9d11b7bff9508101d05f06e461ab81b5f0dc90ae <4b9c54caef58d2b55074710952cda70540722c01
  5. Affected versionversion=9d11b7bff9508101d05f06e461ab81b5f0dc90ae <60afa4f4e1350c876d8a061182a70c224de275dd
  6. Affected versionversion=9d11b7bff9508101d05f06e461ab81b5f0dc90ae <8f15e67af9bec5a69e815e0230a70cffddae371a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.9; version=9d11b7bff9508101d05f06e461ab81b5f0dc90ae <161c64de239c7018e0295e7e0520a19f00aa32dc; version=9d11b7bff9508101d05f06e461ab81b5f0dc90ae <451b9076903a057b7b8d5b24dc84b3e436a1c743; version=9d11b7bff9508101d05f06e461ab81b5f0dc90ae <4b9c54caef58d2b55074710952cda70540722c01; version=9d11b7bff9508101d05f06e461ab81b5f0dc90ae <60afa4f4e1350c876d8a061182a70c224de275dd; version=9d11b7bff9508101d05f06e461ab81b5f0dc90ae <8f15e67af9bec5a69e815e0230a70cffddae371a

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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