CVE-2022-49494 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically within the Memory Technology Device (MTD) subsystem's raw NAND driver for Cadence hardware. The issue arises in the cadence_nand_dt_probe() function, where a null pointer dereference can occur due to improper handling of the resource pointer 'res'. The root cause is that platform_get_resource() may return NULL if the expected hardware resource is not found, but the code attempts to use 'res' before verifying its validity. This leads to a potential null pointer dereference, which can cause a kernel panic or system crash. The fix involves reordering the code to call devm_ioremap_resource() first, which internally checks the resource validity, thereby preventing the null pointer dereference. Additionally, the patch simplifies the code by using devm_platform_get_and_ioremap_resource(), which combines resource retrieval and mapping with built-in validation. This vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash ec4ba01e894d3165e4d1ccbef782ef5593b708b4 and was published on February 26, 2025. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no CVSS score has been assigned. The vulnerability is a classic example of improper resource validation leading to a null pointer dereference in kernel space, which can impact system stability and availability.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2022-49494 is on system availability and stability. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions with the Cadence raw NAND driver enabled could experience kernel panics or crashes if the vulnerability is triggered, potentially leading to denial of service conditions. This is particularly relevant for embedded systems, industrial control systems, or network appliances that rely on NAND flash memory managed by this driver. While the vulnerability does not directly expose confidentiality or integrity risks, the resulting system crashes could disrupt critical services or operations. Organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure that deploy Linux-based embedded devices may face operational disruptions. Since no known exploits exist in the wild, the immediate risk is low, but unpatched systems remain vulnerable to potential future exploitation or accidental triggering during hardware resource enumeration.

To mitigate CVE-2022-49494, European organizations should: 1) Identify and inventory all Linux systems using the affected kernel versions and verify if the Cadence raw NAND driver is in use. 2) Apply the official Linux kernel patches that reorder resource validation and use devm_platform_get_and_ioremap_resource() to prevent null pointer dereferences. If using distribution kernels, ensure updates from vendors are applied promptly. 3) For embedded or custom Linux builds, rebuild kernels incorporating the fix from the relevant commit or kernel version. 4) Implement robust monitoring for kernel panics or crashes related to NAND device initialization to detect potential exploitation or triggering of this vulnerability. 5) Conduct thorough testing of updated kernels in staging environments to confirm stability before deployment. 6) Limit access to systems with affected drivers to trusted users and networks to reduce the risk of accidental or malicious triggering. 7) Maintain up-to-date backups and recovery procedures to minimize downtime in case of system crashes.