// For flags

CVE-2022-48961

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

Severity Score

5.5
*CVSS v3

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

Track
*SSVC
Descriptions

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.

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.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
Single
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:Track
Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Tech. Impact
Partial
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2024-08-22 CVE Reserved
  • 2024-10-21 CVE Published
  • 2024-12-19 CVE Updated
  • 2025-03-20 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 4.5 < 5.15.83
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.5 < 5.15.83"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 4.5 < 6.0.13
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.5 < 6.0.13"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 4.5 < 6.1
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.5 < 6.1"
en
Affected