Memory Leak in __mdiobus_register in Kernel

Kernel Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

28/10/2021

Disclosed on

N/A

Severity

No i

Fix available

Unrated

Severity

Not published

CVSS Score

GSD-2021-1001867: net: mdiobus: Fix memory leak in __mdiobus_register. Affects Kernel versions < 0c4e87ba11eb331dca2315d484d08441b8c13193. No fix is published. How to fix ↓

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Background

The Kernel is a critical component of the Linux operating system that manages communication between hardware and software. It provides essential functions and services to ensure the proper functioning of the system. The __mdiobus_register function is part of the network subsystem and is responsible for registering a new MDIO bus. MDIO (Management Data Input/Output) is a protocol used for communication between Ethernet PHYs (Physical Layer transceivers) and Ethernet MACs (Media Access Controllers).

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability identified as GSD-2021-1001867 in the Kernel's __mdiobus_register function is a memory leak issue. A memory leak occurs when allocated memory is not properly released, leading to a gradual depletion of available memory resources. In this case, the __mdiobus_register function fails to release memory in certain scenarios, resulting in a memory leak. This vulnerability could potentially lead to resource exhaustion, system instability, and denial-of-service conditions. It is important to note that the impact and attack plausibility of this vulnerability have not been proven yet.

How To Fix

No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.

The memory leak issue in __mdiobus_register has been addressed in the Linux Kernel version v5.14.15. To fix this vulnerability, it is recommended to update the Kernel to the latest version available. This can be done by obtaining the updated Kernel source code from the official Linux Kernel repository (https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/) and compiling it for the target system. Alternatively, users can wait for their Linux distribution to provide an updated Kernel package.

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Workaround

No specific workaround has been mentioned for this vulnerability.

Conclusion

The memory leak vulnerability in __mdiobus_register can be addressed by updating the Kernel to version v5.14.15 or later. It is crucial to keep the Kernel up to date to ensure system stability and security. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.

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