CVE-2022-46283 - Why Was This CVE Withdrawn? Details, Process, and What It Means (With Reference Links)

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Introduction

In the world of cybersecurity, CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) are like incident reports, giving everyone a way to talk about and fix potential or active threats in software. But not every CVE lives up to its initial report. Sometimes, a CVE is withdrawn, rejected, or marked as unused. This is exactly what happened to CVE-2022-46283.

This long-read post breaks down what "rejection" means for CVEs, why it happens, and what the story is behind CVE-2022-46283, including references and code snippets that clarify the process.

What is CVE-2022-46283?

First, let's look at the "official" information for CVE-2022-46283.

- CVE Detail Page: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-46283

At the top, you’ll see

> REJECTED
> This candidate has been withdrawn by its CVE Numbering Authority (CNA).
> Reason: This CVE ID was unused, and the record is being marked as REJECTED to prevent accidental usage.

Let's break down exactly what that means, why it happens, and how the community deals with it.

The Rejection Process

Whenever someone—a security researcher, vendor, or another entity—spots what they think is a new security vulnerability, they request a CVE ID. Sometimes, after deeper digging, they learn:

Or, as in this case, the CVE ID was reserved but never actually used

When that happens, the CVE’s "numbering authority" (CNA) updates the CVE status to "REJECTED" so it doesn’t cause confusion. This is like putting up a big "Nothing Here! Move Along!" sign so nobody worries about an imaginary security hole.

Official Documentation

From the official CVE Documentation:
- About CVE IDs

Excerpt

> "A rejected CVE Record means the CVE ID was documented in error and should not be used."

How Does a CVE Look When It's Rejected?

A rejected CVE is simple, and the MITRE site (which manages the master list) shows it clearly. Here’s a sample:

CVE-2022-46283

 REJECTED 
unused
This CVE ID has been rejected or withdrawn by its CVE Numbering Authority.
No references or further information available.

This is all you’ll find on the official CVE site and the NVD (National Vulnerability Database).

Does a Rejected CVE Mean There's No Security Issue?

Yes,—if a CVE is *rejected*, it means that exact identifier does NOT point to a vulnerability. There is no proof of a bug, exploit, or security hole. You should not patch or change any code for this ID.

> Pro-tip:
> Sometimes researchers stumble onto old rejected CVEs and worry they missed patching a vulnerability. Rest easy—rejected CVEs are safe to ignore.

What Would an (Unused) CVE Exploit Look Like?

For educational purposes, here’s what a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit sometimes looks like when a real CVE is discovered. Since CVE-2022-46283 is unused, here’s a harmless template:

# This is a *fake* PoC for a rejected CVE.
# No real exploit code because no real vulnerability exists.

def check_CVE_2022_46283():
    print("CVE-2022-46283 is REJECTED, no action required.")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    check_CVE_2022_46283()

*If you find "exploit code" for CVE-2022-46283 online, it’s either mistaken or malicious (or just nonsense).*

Lots! Even reputable products can have IDs issued, then later rejected. For example, see

- CVE-2016-100000 (rejected as duplicate)
- Full List: MITRE’s REJECTED CVEs

What If You Find a Real Security Problem?

If you run across an actual exploitable bug and *think* you’re looking at a rejected CVE, don’t panic!

You can always

- Double-check the official CVE/NVD listings.

Summary Table

| CVE Number | Status | Reason | More Info |
|-------------------|-----------|-----------------|----------------------------------------|
| CVE-2022-46283 | REJECTED | Unused ID | CVE MITRE Page |
| CVE-2016-100000 | REJECTED | Duplicate | CVE MITRE Page |
| CVE-2017-12345 | ACTIVE | Valid | Example of a valid CVE |

Always use the official CVE reference pages to confirm status.

Remember: If in doubt, check the official sources! CVE IDs are powerful, but sometimes, their only job is to remind us of mistakes. And that’s OK—that’s how security gets better for all.

Official References

- CVE-2022-46283 on CVE MITRE
- NVD - National Vulnerability Database
- CVE Official Website
- CVE Numbering Authority Guidelines


*Stay tuned for more CVE breakdowns! If you have questions about a specific CVE, drop a comment below!*

Timeline

Published on: 02/19/2025 15:15:12 UTC
Last modified on: 02/19/2025 20:15:33 UTC