CVE-2026-97972
Linux: net: macb: put the "mdio" child node reference on success
Linux LinuxOperating systemsCVSS
NoneNot scoredExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.17%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 5% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in5fba30080d298edb742396073372385c961578d3Also 7d60dc7ff85b73a2119d582ca2d4456b30960380, 382a373d9ea7a6ac4de9c022385b6217f65ae3ccCVE List
What fixes it
- 5fba30080d298edb742396073372385c961578d3LinuxCVE List
- 7d60dc7ff85b73a2119d582ca2d4456b30960380LinuxCVE List
- 382a373d9ea7a6ac4de9c022385b6217f65ae3ccLinuxCVE List
A fixed version on one release line is not the upgrade target for every line. Check your exact version and any vendor backports.
Description
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.
Text from CVE List
Affected versions 8
- Linuxaffected: 8a6631f1cece09047fa44608d21d520ca65ce7d8 before 5fba30080d298edb742396073372385c961578d3CVE List
- Linuxaffected: 8a6631f1cece09047fa44608d21d520ca65ce7d8 before 7d60dc7ff85b73a2119d582ca2d4456b30960380CVE List
- Linuxaffected: 8a6631f1cece09047fa44608d21d520ca65ce7d8 before 382a373d9ea7a6ac4de9c022385b6217f65ae3ccCVE List
- Linuxaffected: 6.13CVE List
- Linuxunaffected: all versions before 6.13CVE List
- Linuxunaffected: 6.18.53 through 6.18.*CVE List
- Linuxunaffected: 7.2.7 through 7.2.*CVE List
- Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List