CVE-2022-49642 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically affecting the Synopsys DesignWare Cores (DWC) Ethernet driver (stmmac) implementation for the NVIDIA Tegra194 platform. The issue arises due to the improper handling of the split header feature in the driver. When this feature is enabled, the driver may receive a buffer length larger than expected, causing an integer overflow during the calculation of the total buffer length. This overflow results in an abnormally large buffer length value, which subsequently leads to kernel crashes and system instability. The root cause is linked to the split header feature not being supported by the Tegra194 hardware, as confirmed by NVIDIA's design team. The vulnerability manifests as random system crashes, which can disrupt normal operations. The fix involves disabling the split header feature for Tegra194 devices in the stmmac driver to prevent the overflow condition and associated crashes. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no CVSS score has been assigned. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions containing the affected commit hashes, and the issue was publicly disclosed in early 2025.

For European organizations utilizing Linux systems on NVIDIA Tegra194 platforms—commonly found in embedded systems, industrial devices, and specialized networking equipment—this vulnerability can cause unexpected system crashes and downtime. Such instability can lead to denial of service conditions, impacting availability of critical infrastructure or services. In sectors like manufacturing, automotive, telecommunications, or IoT deployments where Tegra194-based devices might be embedded, these crashes could disrupt operational technology environments, leading to production delays or safety risks. Although the vulnerability does not directly expose confidentiality or integrity risks, the availability impact can be significant, especially in environments requiring high reliability. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but unpatched systems remain vulnerable to potential future exploitation or accidental crashes triggered by malformed network packets. European organizations with Tegra194-based Linux systems should prioritize patching to maintain operational continuity.

The primary mitigation is to apply the patch that disables the split header feature for Tegra194 in the stmmac driver, as provided by the Linux kernel maintainers. Organizations should: 1) Identify all Linux systems running on Tegra194 hardware, particularly those using the affected driver versions. 2) Update the Linux kernel to a version that includes the fix or backport the patch if using long-term support kernels. 3) If immediate patching is not feasible, consider disabling network interfaces using the affected driver or isolating these devices from untrusted networks to reduce exposure. 4) Monitor system logs for signs of kernel crashes or instability that could indicate attempts to trigger the vulnerability. 5) Engage with hardware and software vendors to confirm that Tegra194-based devices have received appropriate firmware and driver updates. 6) Implement robust network segmentation and intrusion detection to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might exploit this or related vulnerabilities. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on hardware-specific identification and targeted patching strategies.