CVE-2022-41218 is a use-after-free vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel, specifically within the DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) core subsystem, in the file drivers/media/dvb-core/dmxdev.c. This vulnerability arises due to reference count race conditions affecting the functions dvb_demux_open and dvb_dmxdev_release. A use-after-free occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, potentially leading to undefined behavior such as crashes or memory corruption. In this case, the race condition in managing reference counts can cause the kernel to access freed memory, which may result in denial of service (system crashes) or potentially other unintended behavior. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions up to 5.19.10. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), with the vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), no impact on confidentiality or integrity (C:N/I:N), but high impact on availability (A:H). There are no known exploits in the wild, and no vendor or product-specific information is provided beyond the Linux kernel DVB subsystem. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-416 (Use After Free).

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-41218 is primarily related to system availability and stability. Since the vulnerability affects the Linux kernel's DVB subsystem, organizations using Linux-based systems with DVB hardware or software components—such as media servers, broadcast infrastructure, or embedded devices handling digital video streams—may experience system crashes or denial of service conditions if exploited. Although the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity directly, disruption of critical services relying on DVB functionality could impact operations, particularly in media, telecommunications, or broadcasting sectors prevalent in Europe. The requirement for local access and low privilege means that attackers would need some level of access to the affected system, limiting remote exploitation risks. However, insider threats or compromised user accounts could leverage this vulnerability to cause service interruptions. Given the widespread use of Linux in European IT infrastructure, especially in telecommunications and media industries, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk to availability of services dependent on DVB components.

To mitigate CVE-2022-41218, European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernel to versions beyond 5.19.10 where the vulnerability is patched. Since no patch links are provided in the source, organizations should monitor official Linux kernel repositories and distributions for security updates addressing this issue. Additionally, organizations should audit systems for the presence of DVB hardware and software components and assess whether these are actively used or can be disabled if unnecessary, reducing the attack surface. Implementing strict access controls and monitoring for unusual local activity can help detect attempts to exploit this vulnerability. For environments where kernel updates are delayed, applying kernel live patching solutions (if available) can provide interim protection. Finally, organizations should maintain robust system integrity monitoring and incident response plans to quickly address any potential exploitation attempts.