CVE-2022-48961

net: mdio: fix unbalanced fwnode reference count in mdio_device_release()

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: October 21, 2024 at 08:05 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 05:16 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: mdio: fix unbalanced fwnode reference count in mdio_device_release() There is warning report about of_node refcount leak while probing mdio device: OF: ERROR: memory leak, expected refcount 1 instead of 2, of_node_get()/of_node_put() unbalanced - destroy cset entry: attach overlay node /spi/soc@0/mdio@710700c0/ethernet@4 In of_mdiobus_register_device(), we increase fwnode refcount by fwnode_handle_get() before associating the of_node with mdio device, but it has never been decreased in normal path. Since that, in mdio_device_release(), it needs to call fwnode_handle_put() in addition instead of calling kfree() directly. After above, just calling mdio_device_free() in the error handle path of of_mdiobus_register_device() is enough to keep the refcount balanced.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

4.5 ≤ v < 5.15.834.5 ≤ v < 6.0.134.5 ≤ v < 6.15.16 ≤ v < 6.0.136.1 rc16.1 rc26.1 rc36.1 rc46.1 rc56.1 rc66.1 rc76.1 rc8a9049e0c513c4521dbfaa302af8ed08b3366b41f
Vendor states this is fixed in 16854177745a5648f8ec322353b432e18460f43a (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in a5c6de1a6656b8cc6bce7cb3d9874dd7df4968c3 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in cb37617687f2bfa5b675df7779f869147c9002bd (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 4.5 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.15.83 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.0.13 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1 (unaffected)

References (3)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/16854177745a5648f8ec322353b432e18460f43a
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a5c6de1a6656b8cc6bce7cb3d9874dd7df4968c3
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cb37617687f2bfa5b675df7779f869147c9002bd

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
NVD-CWE-Other

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