CVE-2022-48889 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 08/21/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ASoC: Intel: sof-nau8825: fix module alias overflow
The maximum name length for a platform_device_id entry is 20 characters including the trailing NUL byte. The sof_nau8825.c file exceeds that, which causes an obscure error message:
sound/soc/intel/boards/snd-soc-sof_nau8825.mod.c:35:45: error: illegal character encoding in string literal [-Werror,-Winvalid-source-encoding]
MODULE_ALIAS("platform:adl_max98373_nau8825"); ^~~~ include/linux/module.h:168:49: note: expanded from macro 'MODULE_ALIAS' ^~~~~~ include/linux/module.h:165:56: note: expanded from macro 'MODULE_INFO' ^~~~ include/linux/moduleparam.h:26:47: note: expanded from macro '__MODULE_INFO' = __MODULE_INFO_PREFIX __stringify(tag) "=" info
I could not figure out how to make the module handling robust enough to handle this better, but as a quick fix, using slightly shorter names that are still unique avoids the build issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2022-48889 represents a critical module alias overflow issue within the Linux kernel's sound subsystem specifically affecting the Intel SOF (Sound Open Firmware) audio driver. This flaw manifests in the sof-nau8825 driver component which is responsible for managing audio hardware configurations in systems utilizing Intel's audio processing capabilities. The core problem stems from the violation of fundamental kernel module naming conventions where the module alias string exceeds the permitted character limit for platform device identifiers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the kernel build level where the Linux kernel enforces strict limits on module alias string lengths. According to linux kernel documentation and module handling standards, platform_device_id entries are constrained to a maximum of 20 characters including the null termination byte. The sof_nau8825.c source file contains a module alias definition that exceeds this boundary, specifically the string "platform:adl_max98373_nau8825" which surpasses the 20-character limit. This violation triggers compiler errors during the build process and prevents successful kernel compilation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for system administrators and kernel developers working with Intel audio hardware configurations. When attempting to build the kernel with the affected driver enabled, the compilation process fails with explicit error messages indicating illegal character encoding in string literals. The error originates from the sound/soc/intel/boards/snd-soc-sof_nau8825.mod.c file at line 35 where the MODULE_ALIAS macro expands to an invalid string format. This prevents proper module loading and system audio functionality in affected configurations, particularly impacting systems utilizing Intel Alder Lake processors with the max98373 audio codec.
The resolution implemented for CVE-2022-48889 follows the principle of minimal necessary change to address the immediate build failure while maintaining functional integrity. The fix involves reducing the length of the module alias names to ensure they remain within the 20-character limit while preserving uniqueness for proper device identification. This approach aligns with the kernel's module alias handling standards and follows the established pattern of using shorter but still descriptive naming conventions. The solution demonstrates the importance of adhering to kernel interface specifications and maintaining compatibility with existing module infrastructure.
This vulnerability classification relates to CWE-120: Buffer Overflow in the Linux kernel's module alias handling system, where the buffer size constraint for device identification strings is exceeded. The issue also connects to ATT&CK technique T1059.001: Command and Scripting Interpreter - PowerShell, though more specifically to kernel-level module compilation techniques. The fix represents a standard defensive programming approach where developers must consider system constraints and interface limitations when implementing kernel modules, particularly in the audio subsystem where device identification and module loading are critical for proper system functionality. The resolution demonstrates proper kernel development practices and adherence to established module handling protocols within the Linux kernel ecosystem.