CVE-2022-49518·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ASoC: SOF: ipc3-topology: Correct get_control_data for non bytes payload It is possible to craft a topology where sof_get_control_data() would do out of bounds access because it expects that it is only called when the payload is bytes type. Confusingly it also handles other types of controls, but the payload parsing implementation is only valid for bytes. Fix the code to count the non bytes controls and instead of storing a pointer to sof_abi_hdr in sof_widget_data (which is only valid for bytes), store the pointer to the data itself and add a new member to save the size of the data. In case of non bytes controls we store the pointer to the chanv itself, which is just an array of values at the end. In case of bytes control, drop the wrong cdata->data (wdata[i].pdata) check against NULL since it is incorrect and invalid in this context. The data is pointing to the end of cdata struct, so it should never be null.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 5.18.3
- Published
- 2025-02-26
Affected versions
From: 5.18
Until: 5.18.3
Fixed in: 5.18.3
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 5.18.3 or later to fix a memory access vulnerability in the ASoC SOF audio subsystem's topology control data handler. This patch corrects improper bounds checking when parsing non-bytes payload controls, preventing out-of-bounds memory reads that could lead to information disclosure or system instability. Apply the kernel update through your distribution's package manager and reboot to activate the patched version.
sudo dnf update kernel && sudo rebootDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check installed kernel version: uname -r | grep -E '^5\.18\.[0-2]' (if output shows versions 5.18.0-5.18.2, system is vulnerable)
- Verify ASoC SOF module is loaded: lsmod | grep snd_sof (if present, the vulnerable component is active)
- Search kernel logs for audio topology errors: journalctl -k | grep -i 'sof.*topology\|sof.*control' (exploitation may trigger memory access warnings)
- Confirm patch applied by checking kernel version again: uname -r (should show 5.18.3 or higher, or jump to 5.19+)
FAQ
What is CVE-2022-49518?
CVE-2022-49518 is a kernel memory safety vulnerability in the ASoC SOF (Sound Open Firmware) topology parser that improperly validates control data structures, allowing out-of-bounds memory access when processing specially crafted audio topologies.
Is CVE-2022-49518 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploits are known. However, it remains a high-severity local privilege escalation and denial-of-service risk requiring patching.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2022-49518?
Linux kernel versions 5.18.0 through 5.18.2 are vulnerable. Kernel 5.18.3 and later versions include the fix. Users on 5.17 and earlier, or 5.19 and later, are not affected.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2022-49518?
Run 'uname -r' and check if the output matches 5.18.[0-2]. If yes, verify the ASoC SOF driver is loaded with 'lsmod | grep snd_sof'. If both conditions are true, your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2022-49518?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2022-49518 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
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