Linux Kernel up to 5.10.100/5.15.23/5.16.9 mdio_bus.c mdiobus_free allocation of resources

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 4.9 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.100/5.15.23/5.16.9. It has been declared as problematic. This affects the function mdiobus_free of the file drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c. The manipulation results in allocation of resources.
This vulnerability is known as CVE-2022-48818. No exploit is available.
It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
Details
A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.100/5.15.23/5.16.9. Affected is the function mdiobus_free of the file drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a allocation of resources vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-770. The product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated, in violation of the intended security policy for that actor. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: dsa: mv88e6xxx: don't use devres for mdiobus As explained in commits: 74b6d7d13307 ("net: dsa: realtek: register the MDIO bus under devres") 5135e96a3dd2 ("net: dsa: don't allocate the slave_mii_bus using devres") mdiobus_free() will panic when called from devm_mdiobus_free() <- devres_release_all() <- __device_release_driver(), and that mdiobus was not previously unregistered. The mv88e6xxx is an MDIO device, so the initial set of constraints that I thought would cause this (I2C or SPI buses which call ->remove on ->shutdown) do not apply. But there is one more which applies here. If the DSA master itself is on a bus that calls ->remove from ->shutdown (like dpaa2-eth, which is on the fsl-mc bus), there is a device link between the switch and the DSA master, and device_links_unbind_consumers() will unbind the Marvell switch driver on shutdown. systemd-shutdown[1]: Powering off. mv88e6085 0x0000000008b96000:00 sw_gl0: Link is Down fsl-mc dpbp.9: Removing from iommu group 7 fsl-mc dpbp.8: Removing from iommu group 7 ------------[ cut here ]------------ kernel BUG at drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c:677! Internal error: Oops - BUG: 0 [#1] PREEMPT SMP Modules linked in: CPU: 0 PID: 1 Comm: systemd-shutdow Not tainted 5.16.5-00040-gdc05f73788e5 #15 pc : mdiobus_free+0x44/0x50 lr : devm_mdiobus_free+0x10/0x20 Call trace: mdiobus_free+0x44/0x50 devm_mdiobus_free+0x10/0x20 devres_release_all+0xa0/0x100 __device_release_driver+0x190/0x220 device_release_driver_internal+0xac/0xb0 device_links_unbind_consumers+0xd4/0x100 __device_release_driver+0x4c/0x220 device_release_driver_internal+0xac/0xb0 device_links_unbind_consumers+0xd4/0x100 __device_release_driver+0x94/0x220 device_release_driver+0x28/0x40 bus_remove_device+0x118/0x124 device_del+0x174/0x420 fsl_mc_device_remove+0x24/0x40 __fsl_mc_device_remove+0xc/0x20 device_for_each_child+0x58/0xa0 dprc_remove+0x90/0xb0 fsl_mc_driver_remove+0x20/0x5c __device_release_driver+0x21c/0x220 device_release_driver+0x28/0x40 bus_remove_device+0x118/0x124 device_del+0x174/0x420 fsl_mc_bus_remove+0x80/0x100 fsl_mc_bus_shutdown+0xc/0x1c platform_shutdown+0x20/0x30 device_shutdown+0x154/0x330 kernel_power_off+0x34/0x6c __do_sys_reboot+0x15c/0x250 __arm64_sys_reboot+0x20/0x30 invoke_syscall.constprop.0+0x4c/0xe0 do_el0_svc+0x4c/0x150 el0_svc+0x24/0xb0 el0t_64_sync_handler+0xa8/0xb0 el0t_64_sync+0x178/0x17c So the same treatment must be applied to all DSA switch drivers, which is: either use devres for both the mdiobus allocation and registration, or don't use devres at all. The Marvell driver already has a good structure for mdiobus removal, so just plug in mdiobus_free and get rid of devres.
The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2022-48818 since 07/16/2024. The exploitability is told to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.
The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 225802 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2022-48818), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.
Upgrading to version 5.10.101, 5.15.24 or 5.16.10 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 8ccebe77df6e/8b626d45127d/1b451c3994a2/f53a2ce893b2 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.
The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (225802). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
- 5.0
- 5.1
- 5.2
- 5.3
- 5.4
- 5.5
- 5.6
- 5.7
- 5.8
- 5.9
- 5.10.100
- 5.15.0
- 5.15.1
- 5.15.2
- 5.15.3
- 5.15.4
- 5.15.5
- 5.15.6
- 5.15.7
- 5.15.8
- 5.15.9
- 5.15.10
- 5.15.11
- 5.15.12
- 5.15.13
- 5.15.14
- 5.15.15
- 5.15.16
- 5.15.17
- 5.15.18
- 5.15.19
- 5.15.20
- 5.15.21
- 5.15.22
- 5.15.23
- 5.16.0
- 5.16.1
- 5.16.2
- 5.16.3
- 5.16.4
- 5.16.5
- 5.16.6
- 5.16.7
- 5.16.8
- 5.16.9
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔍VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.0VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.9
VulDB Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Temp Score: 4.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍
CVSSv2
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Allocation of resourcesCWE: CWE-770 / CWE-400 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍
Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially
Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined
EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
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Nessus ID: 225802
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2022-48818
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.101/5.15.24/5.16.10
Patch: 8ccebe77df6e/8b626d45127d/1b451c3994a2/f53a2ce893b2
Timeline
07/16/2024 🔍07/16/2024 🔍
07/16/2024 🔍
10/06/2025 🔍
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2022-48818 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2022-48818
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-271620
Entry
Created: 07/16/2024 17:07Updated: 10/06/2025 19:28
Changes: 07/16/2024 17:07 (58), 03/05/2025 18:14 (3), 10/06/2025 19:28 (12)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
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