Memory Leak in __mdiobus_register in Kernel

Kernel Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

14/11/2021

Disclosed on

N/A

Severity

No i

Fix available

Unrated

Severity

Not published

CVSS Score

GSD-2021-1002119: 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 services and functions for the proper functioning of the system. The __mdiobus_register function is part of the mdiobus subsystem in the Kernel, which handles management of the Media Independent Interface (MII) buses. MII buses are used for communication between Ethernet PHYs and network controllers. This vulnerability in __mdiobus_register can lead to a memory leak, potentially causing resource exhaustion and system instability.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability in __mdiobus_register arises from a memory leak issue. When registering a new MII bus, the function fails to release allocated memory in certain error paths. As a result, memory resources are not properly freed, leading to a memory leak. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to exhaust system memory, causing denial-of-service conditions or other unpredictable behavior. It is important to note that the impact and attack plausibility of this vulnerability have not been proven.

How To Fix

No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.

To fix this vulnerability, it is recommended to update the Linux Kernel to version v5.14.15 or later. This fix is implemented in commit 0c4e87ba11eb331dca2315d484d08441b8c13193. Updating the Kernel to the latest stable version ensures that the memory leak issue in __mdiobus_register is addressed.

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Workaround

There is no specific workaround mentioned for this vulnerability. However, applying the recommended fix by updating the Kernel to the latest stable version is the best course of action.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the vulnerability in __mdiobus_register in the Kernel can lead to memory leaks, potentially causing resource exhaustion and system instability. It is crucial to update the Kernel to version v5.14.15 or later to fix this vulnerability. Applying the recommended fix ensures that the memory leak issue is addressed. For more information and support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.

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