Linux Kernel up to 5.15.53/5.17.1 to_i2c_client null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.53/5.17.1. It has been classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function to_i2c_client. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2022-49285. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.53/5.17.1. It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects the function to_i2c_client. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: iio: accel: mma8452: use the correct logic to get mma8452_data The original logic to get mma8452_data is wrong, the *dev point to the device belong to iio_dev. we can't use this dev to find the correct i2c_client. The original logic happen to work because it finally use dev->driver_data to get iio_dev. Here use the API to_i2c_client() is wrong and make reader confuse. To correct the logic, it should be like this struct mma8452_data *data = iio_priv(dev_get_drvdata(dev)); But after commit 8b7651f25962 ("iio: iio_device_alloc(): Remove unnecessary self drvdata"), the upper logic also can't work. When try to show the avialable scale in userspace, will meet kernel dump, kernel handle NULL pointer dereference. So use dev_to_iio_dev() to correct the logic. Dual fixes tags as the second reflects when the bug was exposed, whilst the first reflects when the original bug was introduced.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2022-49285 since 02/26/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

Upgrading to version 5.15.54 or 5.17.2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 4c0bb583a4444cce224e8661090cbffc98e2fe07/d2d9ebdbff79d87d27652578e6d1638ad3b5f3bf/c87b7b12f48db86ac9909894f4dc0107d7df6375 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2107). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Google Container-Optimized OS
• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• Dell NetWorker

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.15.0
• 5.15.1
• 5.15.2
• 5.15.3
• 5.15.4
• 5.15.5
• 5.15.6
• 5.15.7
• 5.15.8
• 5.15.9
• 5.15.10
• 5.15.11
• 5.15.12
• 5.15.13
• 5.15.14
• 5.15.15
• 5.15.16
• 5.15.17
• 5.15.18
• 5.15.19
• 5.15.20
• 5.15.21
• 5.15.22
• 5.15.23
• 5.15.24
• 5.15.25
• 5.15.26
• 5.15.27
• 5.15.28
• 5.15.29
• 5.15.30
• 5.15.31
• 5.15.32
• 5.15.33
• 5.15.34
• 5.15.35
• 5.15.36
• 5.15.37
• 5.15.38
• 5.15.39
• 5.15.40
• 5.15.41
• 5.15.42
• 5.15.43
• 5.15.44
• 5.15.45
• 5.15.46
• 5.15.47
• 5.15.48
• 5.15.49
• 5.15.50
• 5.15.51
• 5.15.52
• 5.15.53
• 5.17.0
• 5.17.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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CVSSv4info

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Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

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