CVE-2022-49751 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel related to the 1-Wire (w1) subsystem, specifically involving the w1_process() function and the handling of task states during driver removal operations. The issue manifests as a kernel warning triggered when the w1_process() function calls blocking operations while the task state is not TASK_RUNNING, which violates kernel scheduling rules. This warning occurs during the removal of the ds2482 driver, a common 1-Wire bus master driver. The root cause is that within a loop in w1_process(), the task state is set to TASK_INTERRUPTIBLE but is not reset to TASK_RUNNING upon exiting the loop, leading to improper task state management and the warning message. While this vulnerability does not appear to cause direct memory corruption or privilege escalation, it indicates incorrect kernel behavior that could potentially lead to system instability or unexpected behavior under certain conditions. The fix involves ensuring the task state is properly reset to TASK_RUNNING when breaking out of the loop, preventing the warning and maintaining kernel scheduling integrity. There are no known exploits in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned to this vulnerability yet. The affected versions appear to be specific Linux kernel commits, indicating this is a low-level kernel bug rather than a widespread vulnerability affecting all Linux distributions indiscriminately.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-49751 is likely limited but non-negligible. Since the vulnerability relates to kernel task state management in the 1-Wire subsystem, it primarily affects systems using the ds2482 or similar 1-Wire drivers, which are often found in embedded systems, IoT devices, or specialized industrial equipment. Organizations relying on Linux-based embedded devices for industrial automation, smart building management, or sensor networks may experience kernel warnings or potential instability during driver removal or reconfiguration. Although no direct exploitation or privilege escalation is known, improper kernel task state handling can lead to system crashes or degraded reliability, which could impact operational continuity in critical infrastructure or manufacturing environments. For typical enterprise IT infrastructure running standard Linux distributions without 1-Wire hardware, the risk is minimal. However, organizations should be aware of this issue if they deploy Linux in specialized hardware contexts. The absence of known exploits and the nature of the bug suggest a low likelihood of targeted attacks, but kernel stability issues should be addressed promptly to maintain system integrity.

To mitigate CVE-2022-49751, European organizations should: 1) Apply the official Linux kernel patches that fix the task state handling in the w1_process() function as soon as they become available from their Linux distribution vendors or kernel maintainers. 2) Identify and inventory Linux systems that utilize the 1-Wire subsystem, particularly those employing the ds2482 driver or similar hardware interfaces, focusing on embedded and IoT devices. 3) For embedded or industrial Linux devices where kernel updates may be challenging, consider vendor firmware updates or workarounds that disable or isolate the affected driver if 1-Wire functionality is not critical. 4) Monitor system logs for kernel warnings related to TASK_RUNNING state violations or w1_process() messages, which may indicate the presence of this issue. 5) Implement robust system monitoring and automated alerting for kernel warnings or instability symptoms to enable rapid response. 6) Engage with hardware and software vendors to ensure timely patching and support for affected devices. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific subsystem and operational contexts where this vulnerability manifests.