CVE-2022-3903

What it actually does

The flaw triggers an incorrect read request in the Infrared Transceiver USB driver, allowing a malicious USB device to consume kernel resources and induce denial of service or kernel panic.

Why it matters to the business

Systems may become unavailable or crash when an attacker with physical access connects a crafted USB device, leading to operational downtime and potential loss of productivity on affected Linux hosts.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker with physical access attaches a malicious USB device that triggers the driver flaw, starving kernel resources and resulting in denial of service or system crash; no remote vector or elevated privileges are required.

How to fix it

Upgrade to a patched Linux kernel version that corrects the Infrared Transceiver USB driver logic; if no fixed version is available, disable the driver module or restrict physical USB access via policy and hardware controls.

How to confirm the fix worked

Verify kernel source or running version against upstream patches for the Infrared Transceiver driver; test by attaching known-good and simulated devices while monitoring dmesg and resource usage for absence of the flaw.

Typical attack path

1. Obtain physical access to a target Linux system
2. Attach a crafted USB device emulating an Infrared Transceiver
3. Trigger the incorrect read request in the kernel driver
4. Observe resource exhaustion leading to DoS or crash

How to detect it

Inspect kernel logs (dmesg, syslog) for USB driver errors or resource exhaustion events around device attachment times; correlate with physical access logs or USB device insertion events.

What your security team should do

• Prioritize kernel updates on all Linux systems with USB support enabled
• Implement physical security controls and USB device allow-listing
• Monitor for new kernel releases addressing USB driver issues
• Review and harden USB-related kernel modules in production images