CVE-2022-48963 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel, specifically within the networking subsystem related to wireless wide area network (wwan) support and the iosm driver. The issue arises in the function ipc_mux_init(), which is responsible for initializing IPC (Inter-Process Communication) multiplexing structures. During the initialization process, if the allocation of the ipc_mux->ul_adb.pp_qlt resource fails, the ipc_mux structure itself is not properly released, resulting in a memory leak. This flaw can lead to gradual exhaustion of kernel memory resources if the failure condition is triggered repeatedly, potentially degrading system performance or causing instability. The vulnerability does not appear to have any known exploits in the wild at this time, and no CVSS score has been assigned. The root cause is a resource management error in kernel code, which is critical for stable operation of the affected Linux kernel versions. The affected versions are identified by specific commit hashes, indicating this is a recent discovery and fix. Since the flaw involves kernel memory management, exploitation would likely require local access or specific conditions triggering the allocation failure, and it does not directly lead to privilege escalation or remote code execution. However, the memory leak could be leveraged in denial-of-service scenarios or to destabilize systems running vulnerable Linux kernels, especially in environments relying on wwan connectivity and iosm drivers.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-48963 is primarily related to system stability and availability rather than direct data confidentiality or integrity breaches. Organizations using Linux-based systems with wwan support and iosm drivers—common in embedded devices, industrial control systems, or network equipment—may experience degraded performance or kernel crashes if the memory leak is triggered repeatedly. This could affect telecommunications providers, critical infrastructure operators, and enterprises relying on Linux for network connectivity in remote or mobile environments. While the vulnerability does not currently have known exploits, the potential for denial-of-service conditions could disrupt services, leading to operational downtime and associated financial or reputational damage. The impact is more pronounced in environments where system uptime is critical and where patching Linux kernels is operationally challenging. Given the nature of the flaw, confidentiality and integrity risks are low, but availability risks are moderate, especially in network infrastructure contexts.

To mitigate CVE-2022-48963, European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernels to versions that include the patch fixing the memory leak in ipc_mux_init(). Since the vulnerability is tied to specific kernel commits, applying the latest stable kernel releases from trusted Linux distributions is essential. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, monitoring kernel logs for repeated allocation failures related to ipc_mux and implementing resource usage alerts can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, limiting local access to systems running vulnerable kernels reduces the risk of triggering the flaw. Organizations should also review their use of wwan and iosm drivers to assess exposure and consider disabling unused drivers or modules to reduce the attack surface. In embedded or specialized devices, coordination with hardware vendors for firmware updates incorporating the patched kernel is recommended. Finally, maintaining robust incident response plans to address potential denial-of-service events will help mitigate operational impacts.