CVE-2022-48729 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically affecting the InfiniBand (IB) hfi1 driver, which is used for high-performance networking. The vulnerability arises when the ipoib (IP over InfiniBand) send_queue_size parameter is increased beyond its default value. Under these conditions, a kernel panic occurs due to a logic error in the hfi1_ipoib_drain_tx_ring function. The root cause is that a shift operation mistakenly uses the ring size instead of the txq item size, leading to improper memory or queue handling and ultimately causing the kernel to crash. This vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity directly but impacts availability by causing a denial-of-service (DoS) condition through kernel panics. The vulnerability requires local privileges with limited privileges (PR:L) to exploit, does not require user interaction, and has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (medium severity). The issue has been fixed by correcting the shift operation to use the item size rather than the ring size. No known exploits are reported in the wild at this time. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions containing the faulty code commit referenced by the affectedVersions hashes. This vulnerability is relevant primarily to systems using the hfi1 InfiniBand driver with ipoib networking, which is common in high-performance computing (HPC) environments and data centers utilizing InfiniBand networking for low-latency, high-throughput communication.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2022-48729 is the potential for denial-of-service conditions on Linux systems using the hfi1 InfiniBand driver with ipoib networking configurations. This can cause unexpected kernel panics and system crashes, leading to downtime and disruption of critical services, especially in HPC clusters, research institutions, and data centers that rely on InfiniBand for performance-sensitive applications. While the vulnerability does not expose data or allow unauthorized access, the availability impact can be significant in environments where uptime and performance are critical. Organizations running large-scale compute clusters or storage systems with InfiniBand networking in Europe could face operational interruptions, impacting scientific research, financial modeling, or industrial simulations. Given the specialized nature of the affected component, the impact is limited to environments deploying InfiniBand with ipoib rather than general-purpose Linux servers. However, in those environments, the disruption caused by kernel panics can lead to cascading failures and loss of productivity.

European organizations should take the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Identify Linux systems using the hfi1 InfiniBand driver with ipoib networking and verify if the send_queue_size parameter has been increased from its default. 2) Apply the latest Linux kernel patches or updates that include the fix for CVE-2022-48729, ensuring the corrected shift operation is in place. 3) If immediate patching is not feasible, revert any non-default ipoib send_queue_size settings to the default to avoid triggering the panic. 4) Implement monitoring for kernel panics or crashes related to the hfi1 driver to detect any attempts to exploit this vulnerability. 5) For HPC and data center environments, schedule maintenance windows to apply patches and test system stability post-update. 6) Engage with Linux distribution vendors or kernel maintainers to obtain backported patches if using long-term support kernels. 7) Document and audit InfiniBand configurations regularly to prevent misconfigurations that could expose this vulnerability. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific driver, parameter, and environment affected.