CVE-2022-49507 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel, specifically within the regulator driver for the da9121 device. The issue arises from an uninitialized value in the function da9121_assign_chip_model(). The vulnerability manifests when the da9121 device is probed with an invalid device tree source (DTS) configuration, causing the chip->subvariant_id to be set to an invalid error code (-EINVAL). Subsequently, the function attempts to access the 'regmap' structure without proper initialization, leading to a slab-out-of-bounds read detected by Kernel Address Sanitizer (KASAN). This out-of-bounds read occurs in the __regmap_init function, which is part of the Linux kernel's register map subsystem used for abstracting hardware register access. The bug trace shows that the issue triggers during the probing phase of the da9121 I2C device, potentially causing kernel instability or crashes. The root cause is improper error handling in da9121_assign_chip_model(), which fails to return an error when chip->subvariant_id is invalid, leading to dereferencing uninitialized pointers. The fix involves modifying da9121_assign_chip_model() to return -EINVAL immediately if the subvariant_id is invalid, preventing further unsafe memory access. This vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions containing the specified commit hashes prior to the fix and is relevant to systems using the da9121 regulator driver, commonly found in embedded or specialized hardware platforms. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-49507 depends largely on the deployment of Linux systems utilizing the da9121 regulator driver, which is typically found in embedded devices or specialized hardware rather than general-purpose servers or desktops. If exploited, this vulnerability could lead to kernel crashes or denial of service (DoS) conditions, potentially disrupting critical services or embedded system operations. While it does not directly enable privilege escalation or remote code execution, the instability caused could be leveraged in multi-stage attacks or cause operational outages. Organizations relying on embedded Linux devices in industrial control systems, telecommunications infrastructure, or IoT deployments may face increased risk. The vulnerability's exploitation requires invalid device tree configurations, which might be introduced via misconfiguration or malicious firmware updates. Therefore, the threat is more pronounced in environments where device firmware or kernel modules are updated without strict validation. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the potential for DoS and system instability warrants attention, especially in sectors where embedded Linux devices are critical to operations.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Ensure all Linux kernel instances running on embedded or specialized hardware are updated to versions containing the fix for CVE-2022-49507. This involves applying the latest stable kernel patches or vendor-provided updates that address the da9121_assign_chip_model() error handling. 2) Audit device tree source (DTS) configurations for the da9121 device to confirm validity and prevent invalid subvariant_id assignments. Implement strict validation and testing of DTS files before deployment. 3) Restrict firmware and kernel module updates to trusted sources with cryptographic verification to prevent injection of malformed configurations that could trigger this vulnerability. 4) Monitor kernel logs for KASAN or slab-out-of-bounds warnings related to regmap or da9121 during device probing, which may indicate attempts to exploit or misconfiguration. 5) For organizations deploying embedded Linux devices at scale, integrate automated configuration management and continuous integration testing to detect and prevent invalid device tree configurations. 6) Engage with hardware vendors to confirm whether their devices include the affected driver and request patched firmware or kernel versions if necessary.