CVE-2022-49227 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's igc network driver, specifically related to handling RX ring parameters via the ethtool utility. The issue arises when changing RX ring parameters (e.g., using the command 'ethtool -G eth0 rx 1024') on network interfaces managed by the igc driver. The vulnerability is caused by improper handling of the xdp_rxq_info structure during the update process. Specifically, the igc_ethtool_set_ringparam() function copies the igc_ring structure but fails to reset the xdp_rxq_info member before invoking igc_setup_rx_resources(). This leads to a situation where xdp_rxq_info_reg() is called with an already registered xdp_rxq_info, triggering kernel warnings and potentially causing instability or unexpected behavior in the kernel networking stack. The root cause is the omission of unregistering the xdp_rxq_info structure before re-registering it, which violates expected kernel resource management protocols. While the vulnerability does not appear to allow direct code execution or privilege escalation, it can cause kernel warnings and potentially kernel crashes or denial of service due to improper resource handling in the network driver. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions containing the igc driver code prior to the fix, and it is triggered by user-level commands that change RX ring parameters via ethtool, which requires appropriate privileges. There are no known exploits in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The fix involves ensuring that the xdp_rxq_info structure is properly unregistered before re-registration in igc_setup_rx_resources().

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily poses a risk of network service disruption on systems running affected Linux kernels with the igc driver, commonly used for Intel Gigabit Ethernet controllers. The impact is mainly on availability, as improper handling of RX ring parameter changes can lead to kernel warnings and potentially kernel panics or crashes, resulting in network interface downtime or system instability. This can affect servers, network appliances, or critical infrastructure relying on stable network connectivity. Confidentiality and integrity impacts are minimal or unlikely since the vulnerability does not directly enable code execution or privilege escalation. However, denial of service conditions could indirectly affect business operations, especially in environments with high network traffic or where ethtool commands are used for dynamic network tuning. European organizations with Linux-based infrastructure, including data centers, cloud providers, and enterprises using Intel network hardware, should be aware of this issue. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability should be addressed proactively to maintain network reliability and avoid potential service interruptions.

1. Apply the official Linux kernel patches that address CVE-2022-49227 as soon as they become available from trusted Linux distribution vendors or the kernel mainline. 2. Avoid changing RX ring parameters on interfaces using the igc driver until patches are applied, especially in production environments. 3. Implement monitoring for kernel warnings related to xdp_rxq_info or igc driver messages to detect attempts to trigger this issue. 4. Restrict ethtool usage to trusted administrators and limit access to network configuration commands to prevent accidental or malicious triggering. 5. Test kernel updates in staging environments to ensure stability before deployment in production. 6. Maintain up-to-date inventories of network hardware and kernel versions to identify affected systems quickly. 7. Consider fallback network configurations or redundant network paths to mitigate potential downtime caused by kernel instability. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on operational controls around ethtool usage and proactive monitoring for kernel warnings specific to this vulnerability.