CVE-2022-49564 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's cryptographic acceleration framework, specifically within the QuickAssist Technology (QAT) driver module. The issue arises from insufficient parameter validation in the Diffie-Hellman (DH) cryptographic operation implementation. The vulnerability occurs because the code does not properly check that the source buffer size is not larger than the cryptographic key size before copying data from a scatterlist (a data structure representing fragmented memory buffers) into a linear buffer. This lack of validation can lead to an integer underflow during the buffer copy operation. An integer underflow in this context could cause the kernel to allocate an incorrect buffer size or perform an out-of-bounds memory operation, potentially leading to memory corruption, data leakage, or kernel crashes. Since the vulnerability is in the kernel's cryptographic subsystem, exploitation could allow an attacker to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of cryptographic operations or cause denial of service by crashing the kernel. The vulnerability has been addressed by adding proper parameter checks to reject requests where the source buffer exceeds the key size, preventing the integer underflow condition. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The affected versions correspond to specific Linux kernel commits prior to the patch. This vulnerability is technical and low-level, affecting systems using the QAT driver for cryptographic acceleration, which is commonly found in enterprise-grade Linux deployments that leverage Intel QuickAssist hardware for enhanced cryptographic performance.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-49564 depends largely on their use of Linux systems with QAT-enabled cryptographic acceleration. Organizations in sectors such as finance, telecommunications, cloud service providers, and government agencies that rely on hardware-accelerated cryptography for secure communications and data protection could be at risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive cryptographic material, undermining confidentiality, or cause system instability and denial of service, impacting availability. Given the kernel-level nature of the vulnerability, successful exploitation could allow privilege escalation or kernel memory corruption, potentially compromising system integrity. However, the absence of known exploits and the requirement for specific hardware and kernel configurations reduce the immediate widespread risk. Nonetheless, unpatched systems in critical infrastructure or data centers could face targeted attacks aiming to disrupt cryptographic operations or extract sensitive keys, which would have severe consequences for data security and trustworthiness of encrypted communications.

European organizations should prioritize patching Linux kernel versions affected by CVE-2022-49564, especially those using Intel QuickAssist Technology for cryptographic acceleration. System administrators should: 1) Identify and inventory Linux systems with QAT hardware and drivers installed. 2) Apply the latest kernel updates or patches that include the fix for this vulnerability as soon as they become available from trusted Linux distributions or kernel maintainers. 3) If immediate patching is not possible, consider disabling QAT acceleration temporarily to mitigate risk, understanding this may impact cryptographic performance. 4) Monitor system logs and kernel messages for unusual behavior or crashes related to cryptographic operations. 5) Employ strict access controls to limit unprivileged users from submitting cryptographic requests that could trigger the vulnerability. 6) Incorporate this vulnerability into vulnerability management and incident response plans to ensure timely detection and remediation. 7) Engage with hardware and software vendors to confirm the presence of patches and receive guidance on secure configuration of QAT modules.