CVE-2022-49269 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's CAN (Controller Area Network) protocol stack, specifically within the ISO-TP (ISO 15765-2) implementation. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of CAN ID values in the isotp_bind() function, which is responsible for binding ISO-TP sockets to CAN IDs. The issue was discovered when Syzbot, an automated kernel fuzzing tool, created a scenario where the state machine reached an invalid or unreachable status due to malformed CAN ID configurations. Specifically, the vulnerability involves CAN IDs such as 0x6000001 and 0xC28001, which when processed, reduce to the same 11-bit CAN ID 0x001 in both sending and receiving contexts. This overlap and lack of proper sanitization of Standard Frame Format (SFF) and Extended Frame Format (EFF) CAN IDs before address checks could lead to inconsistent or unexpected behavior in the CAN protocol stack. The root cause is that the Linux kernel did not adequately sanitize or normalize these CAN ID values before performing address validation, potentially allowing malformed or crafted CAN frames to disrupt the state machine logic of ISO-TP communication. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability could theoretically be leveraged to cause denial of service or unexpected behavior in systems relying on Linux kernel CAN ISO-TP functionality. This vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash e057dd3fc20ffb3d7f150af46542a51b59b90127 and possibly others in the same timeframe. The patch involves sanitizing the CAN ID values before performing address checks to ensure that the state machine cannot be driven into invalid states by malformed CAN IDs.

The impact of CVE-2022-49269 on European organizations depends largely on their use of Linux-based systems that implement CAN ISO-TP communication. CAN is widely used in automotive, industrial automation, and embedded systems for real-time communication between microcontrollers and devices. European automotive manufacturers and suppliers, many of which rely on Linux-based embedded systems for vehicle control units, diagnostics, and telematics, could be affected if their systems use the vulnerable kernel versions. Exploitation could lead to denial of service conditions or communication disruptions within CAN networks, potentially impacting vehicle safety features or industrial control systems. While the vulnerability does not appear to allow direct code execution or privilege escalation, disruption of CAN communication could degrade system reliability and safety, which is critical in automotive and industrial environments. Given the strategic importance of automotive manufacturing in countries like Germany, France, and Italy, and the increasing adoption of Linux in embedded automotive systems, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk. Additionally, organizations involved in industrial automation and critical infrastructure using Linux-based CAN systems could face operational impacts if exploited. However, the lack of known exploits and the requirement for crafted CAN frames limit the immediate threat level.

To mitigate CVE-2022-49269, European organizations should: 1) Identify and inventory Linux systems using CAN ISO-TP functionality, particularly embedded devices in automotive and industrial environments. 2) Apply the latest Linux kernel patches that address this vulnerability as soon as they become available, ensuring that the isotp_bind() function properly sanitizes CAN IDs. 3) For embedded systems where kernel updates are challenging, consider applying vendor-provided firmware updates or patches that incorporate the fix. 4) Implement network segmentation and access controls to restrict access to CAN interfaces, limiting the ability of attackers to send crafted CAN frames. 5) Monitor CAN network traffic for anomalies that could indicate attempts to exploit malformed CAN IDs or disrupt communication. 6) Engage with hardware and software vendors to confirm that their Linux-based CAN implementations are patched and secure. 7) Incorporate this vulnerability into risk assessments and incident response plans for automotive and industrial control systems. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on embedded Linux CAN environments and emphasizing proactive patch management, network controls, and monitoring specific to CAN communication.