CVE Catalog

CVE-2026-97972

Unknown
Published: Translated: NVD NIST

Summary

In the Linux kernel, the macb network driver has a reference leak to the 'mdio' child node in the device tree. The macb_mii_init() function holds the reference returned by of_get_child_by_name() for macb_mdiobus_register() and drops it only on error paths, causing a reference leak on every successful probe. The fix drops the reference after registration, where __mdiobus_register() has already taken its own.

Risk Assessment

The vulnerability leads to reference leak, which can cause issues with overlay removal and potentially system crashes.

Recommendation

It is recommended to update the Linux kernel to a version containing the fix that releases the reference to the 'mdio' node after registration.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

See all
Original NVD description (English source)

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: macb: put the "mdio" child node reference on success macb_mii_init() holds the reference returned by of_get_child_by_name() for macb_mdiobus_register() and drops it only on the error paths, so every successful probe leaks a node reference. On a CM5, overlay removal after four bind cycles reports OF: ERROR: memory leak, expected refcount 1 instead of 5 Drop the reference after registration, where __mdiobus_register() has already taken its own for the lifetime of the bus.

Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS