CVE-2022-49359 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Panfrost DRM (Direct Rendering Manager) driver, which handles GPU acceleration for ARM Mali GPUs. The flaw is a use-after-free (CWE-416) issue arising from improper referencing of memory management structures within the driver. Specifically, the job structure in the Panfrost driver incorrectly references the panfrost_priv structure to access the MMU (Memory Management Unit) context. However, the MMU context can outlive the panfrost_priv structure, and if panfrost_priv is freed while the job still holds a reference to it, this leads to a use-after-free condition. Exploiting this can cause a kernel crash (splat) and potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges due to corrupted kernel memory. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and has low attack complexity (AC:L). The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The fix involves removing the reference to panfrost_priv in the job structure and instead directly referencing the MMU structure, which is the correct and safe approach. This vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions identified by commit hashes, indicating it is present in certain recent kernel builds prior to the patch. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the potential for privilege escalation and kernel compromise makes this a critical issue to address in affected systems.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-49359 can be significant, especially for those relying on Linux-based systems with ARM Mali GPUs, such as embedded devices, IoT infrastructure, and certain server or workstation environments. Exploitation could lead to full system compromise, allowing attackers to bypass security controls, access sensitive data, or disrupt services by causing kernel panics. This is particularly concerning for sectors with high security requirements like finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure. The vulnerability's local attack vector means that attackers need some level of access to the system, which could be obtained via other vulnerabilities or insider threats. Given the widespread use of Linux in European IT environments, unpatched systems could be targeted for privilege escalation, lateral movement, or persistent footholds. Additionally, the vulnerability could affect cloud providers and hosting services operating in Europe that use affected Linux kernels, potentially impacting multi-tenant environments and customer data confidentiality.

European organizations should prioritize patching affected Linux kernel versions as soon as updates are available from their Linux distribution vendors. Since the vulnerability is in the kernel's Panfrost DRM driver, organizations should: 1) Identify systems using ARM Mali GPUs with Panfrost drivers, including embedded and IoT devices, and verify kernel versions against the affected commits. 2) Apply vendor-supplied kernel patches or upgrade to a fixed kernel version that addresses CVE-2022-49359. 3) For systems where immediate patching is not feasible, consider disabling GPU acceleration or the Panfrost driver if not critical to operations, to reduce attack surface. 4) Implement strict access controls and monitoring to limit local user privileges and detect suspicious activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 5) Employ kernel hardening techniques such as Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization (KASLR) and Kernel Page Table Isolation (KPTI) to mitigate exploitation impact. 6) Regularly audit and update device firmware and software to maintain security posture. 7) For cloud environments, ensure hypervisor and host OS kernels are patched and isolate workloads to minimize risk.