CVE-2022-49358 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's netfilter subsystem, specifically within the nf_tables component responsible for packet filtering and firewall functionality. The issue arises from improper memory management during the commit path of flow rule transactions. While the abort path correctly releases flow rule objects to prevent memory leaks, the commit path fails to destroy these objects before releasing the transaction, leading to a memory leak. This flaw can cause the kernel to consume increasing amounts of memory over time when processing flow rules, potentially degrading system performance or causing denial of service due to resource exhaustion. The vulnerability does not appear to allow direct code execution or privilege escalation but can impact system stability and availability. The problem was addressed by updating the code to ensure that flow rule objects are properly destroyed before the transaction is released in the commit path, thereby preventing the memory leak. The affected versions are identified by specific commit hashes, indicating that this vulnerability pertains to certain Linux kernel builds prior to the patch. There are no known exploits in the wild as of the publication date, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily threatens the availability and reliability of Linux-based systems that utilize the netfilter nf_tables framework for firewall and packet filtering. Many enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure providers in Europe rely heavily on Linux servers and network devices. A memory leak in the kernel could lead to gradual resource depletion, causing system slowdowns or crashes, which in turn may disrupt business operations, network security enforcement, and service availability. Organizations with high network traffic or complex firewall rulesets are particularly at risk, as the leak could be triggered more rapidly. Although the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity, the resulting denial of service conditions could indirectly affect security monitoring and incident response capabilities. Given the widespread use of Linux in European data centers, cloud environments, and embedded systems, the impact could be significant if left unpatched, especially in sectors such as finance, telecommunications, healthcare, and public administration.

European organizations should prioritize applying the official Linux kernel patches that address CVE-2022-49358 as soon as they become available. In the interim, administrators should monitor system memory usage closely on devices running affected kernel versions, particularly those handling heavy network traffic or complex firewall configurations. Implementing automated alerts for unusual memory consumption can help detect exploitation attempts or the onset of resource exhaustion. Where feasible, organizations should consider temporarily reducing the complexity or number of nf_tables flow rules to minimize the risk of triggering the leak. Additionally, maintaining robust system and network monitoring, combined with regular kernel updates, will help mitigate this and similar vulnerabilities. For critical systems, deploying redundancy and failover mechanisms can reduce the impact of potential service disruptions caused by this memory leak. Finally, organizations should review their incident response plans to include scenarios involving kernel-level resource exhaustion.