CVE-2022-49544 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically affecting the ipw2x00 wireless driver subsystem. The issue arises from a potential NULL pointer dereference in the function libipw_xmit(), which is responsible for transmitting wireless packets. The vulnerability occurs because the crypt structure and its ops member pointer can be NULL, and the code fails to check for this condition before dereferencing these pointers. This can lead to a kernel NULL pointer dereference, causing a denial of service (DoS) via a kernel crash. Since the ipw2x00 driver supports Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG and 2915ABG network adapters, systems using these wireless cards with vulnerable kernel versions are at risk. The vulnerability is resolved by adding proper NULL checks before dereferencing the crypt and crypt->ops pointers, preventing the kernel crash. There are no known exploits in the wild as of the publication date, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, indicating a patch has been committed to the source code repository. This vulnerability primarily impacts system availability due to potential kernel panics triggered by crafted wireless packets or conditions that cause the NULL dereference in the wireless driver.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-49544 is mainly related to system availability and operational continuity. Organizations relying on Linux systems with the affected ipw2x00 wireless driver—commonly found in older Intel wireless adapters—may experience unexpected kernel crashes leading to denial of service. This can disrupt network connectivity, especially in environments where wireless communication is critical, such as remote offices, mobile workstations, or IoT devices using these adapters. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity, the resulting DoS could interrupt business operations, cause downtime, and potentially affect services dependent on wireless networking. In sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, or critical infrastructure where Linux-based systems are prevalent, even short outages can have significant operational and financial consequences. However, the impact is somewhat limited by the relatively narrow scope of affected hardware and the absence of known exploit code in the wild.

To mitigate CVE-2022-49544, European organizations should: 1) Identify Linux systems using the ipw2x00 wireless driver, particularly those with Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG or 2915ABG adapters. 2) Apply the latest Linux kernel updates or patches that include the fix for this vulnerability, specifically the commit identified by hash 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 or later stable kernel releases. 3) If immediate patching is not feasible, consider disabling the ipw2x00 wireless driver or replacing affected hardware with newer wireless adapters that use supported drivers. 4) Monitor system logs for kernel panics or crashes related to wireless transmission functions as an indicator of attempted exploitation or instability. 5) Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable wireless devices to untrusted networks or users. 6) Educate IT staff about the vulnerability and ensure incident response plans include procedures for handling potential DoS events caused by kernel crashes.