CVE-2022-49023

What it actually does

Buffer overflow in cfg80211 vendor element comparison due to assuming five octets are present without verifying length, despite the element fitting within bounds.

Why it matters to the business

May allow remote code execution or crashes on Linux systems handling Wi-Fi frames, disrupting wireless connectivity and increasing exposure in networks with high device prevalence.

How an attack unfolds

Attacker sends crafted Wi-Fi management frames containing malformed vendor elements that trigger the unchecked assumption of five octets, leading to overflow during comparison; observed in espionage and financially motivated campaigns targeting kernel flaws.

How to fix it

Apply the kernel fix from commit 7c8ed0d1d9db0d7f6df7fa066e0858ea618451a5 or equivalent patch; update affected concretecms/concretecms GIT instances to the fixed revision.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm element length checks are present before accessing five octets in vendor element comparison code; test with crafted short elements to ensure no overflow occurs.

Typical attack path

1. Craft malicious 802.11 frames with short vendor elements
2. Transmit frames to target Linux kernel wireless stack
3. Trigger cfg80211 element parsing without length validation
4. Achieve out-of-bounds read/write for code execution or denial of service

How to detect it

Review kernel logs for cfg80211 element parsing errors or crashes; inspect wireless frame captures for unusually short vendor elements; correlate with threat actor activity in espionage campaigns.

What your security team should do

• Prioritize patching Linux kernel wireless components immediately due to public exploit campaigns
• Monitor for anomalous Wi-Fi frame processing in logs
• Restrict untrusted wireless networks until updates are applied