CVE-2022-49870 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel related to the handling of capabilities, specifically in the function CAP_TO_MASK. The issue arises from undefined behavior caused by shifting a signed 32-bit integer by 31 bits, which is not defined in the C language standard and can lead to unpredictable results. The vulnerability was detected through UBSAN (Undefined Behavior Sanitizer) warnings indicating a shift-out-of-bounds error in the security/commoncap.c source file. The problematic operation involves a left shift of the value 1 by 31 bits on a signed integer type, which cannot be represented correctly and can cause incorrect capability mask calculations. This flaw could potentially affect the kernel's security mechanisms that rely on capability masks for privilege management. Although the vulnerability does not appear to have known exploits in the wild, it represents a correctness and reliability issue in the kernel's security code. The fix involves changing the data type of the shifted value to unsigned to ensure defined behavior during bit shifting. The vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash e338d263a76af78fe8f38a72131188b58fceb591, and it was published on May 1, 2025. No CVSS score has been assigned to this vulnerability yet, and no patch links are provided in the data, indicating that users should monitor official Linux kernel repositories for updates. The vulnerability is technical and low-level, impacting kernel security code related to process capabilities and privilege management.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-49870 is primarily related to the integrity and reliability of the Linux kernel's security mechanisms. Since capabilities are used to enforce fine-grained privilege controls in Linux, incorrect handling due to this vulnerability could theoretically allow privilege escalation or bypass of security restrictions if exploited. However, the vulnerability is a subtle programming error rather than a direct exploit vector, and no known exploits exist currently. The risk is higher in environments where Linux is used extensively, such as cloud infrastructure, servers, and embedded systems. Organizations relying on Linux for critical infrastructure, especially those using custom or older kernel versions without the fix, may face increased risk of undefined behavior leading to potential security policy enforcement failures. This could impact confidentiality and integrity if attackers find ways to leverage the flaw. Availability impact is less likely unless the undefined behavior causes kernel crashes or instability. Overall, the threat is moderate but should be addressed promptly to maintain kernel security integrity and prevent future exploitation possibilities.

European organizations should take the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Identify all Linux systems running affected kernel versions, particularly those matching the commit hash e338d263a76af78fe8f38a72131188b58fceb591 or earlier versions without the fix. 2) Monitor official Linux kernel mailing lists and repositories for the release of patches addressing CVE-2022-49870 and apply them promptly once available. 3) For critical systems, consider temporarily restricting the use of capabilities or limiting privileged operations that invoke the affected code paths until patches are applied. 4) Employ kernel hardening and runtime integrity monitoring tools to detect anomalous behavior potentially caused by undefined behavior in kernel code. 5) Conduct thorough testing of kernel updates in staging environments to ensure stability and security before deployment. 6) Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans in case of kernel-related failures or exploitation attempts. 7) Engage with Linux distribution vendors to confirm patch availability and deployment schedules to ensure timely remediation. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on proactive identification, patch management, and operational controls specific to kernel capability handling.