Linux Kernel up to 5.15.82/6.0.12 of_node_get/of_node_put reference count

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CTI Interest Score
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5.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.82/6.0.12. It has been rated as critical. The impacted element is the function of_node_get/of_node_put. This manipulation causes reference count. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2022-48961. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.82/6.0.12. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function of_node_get/of_node_put. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a reference count vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-911. The product uses a reference count to manage a resource, but it does not update or incorrectly updates the reference count. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: mdio: fix unbalanced fwnode reference count in mdio_device_release() There is warning report about of_node refcount leak while probing mdio device: OF: ERROR: memory leak, expected refcount 1 instead of 2, of_node_get()/of_node_put() unbalanced - destroy cset entry: attach overlay node /spi/soc@0/mdio@710700c0/ethernet@4 In of_mdiobus_register_device(), we increase fwnode refcount by fwnode_handle_get() before associating the of_node with mdio device, but it has never been decreased in normal path. Since that, in mdio_device_release(), it needs to call fwnode_handle_put() in addition instead of calling kfree() directly. After above, just calling mdio_device_free() in the error handle path of of_mdiobus_register_device() is enough to keep the refcount balanced.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2022-48961 since 08/22/2024. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 216030 (EulerOS 2.0 SP12 : kernel (EulerOS-SA-2025-1176)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.15.83 or 6.0.13 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 16854177745a/a5c6de1a6656/cb37617687f2 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 databases at Tenable (216030) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2024-3251). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • NetApp StorageGRID
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • Kyocera Printer
  • NetApp AFF
  • NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • IBM Security Guardium
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Dell NetWorker
  • Dell Avamar
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • NetApp FAS
  • SolarWinds Security Event Manager
  • Dell PowerProtect Data Domain
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Dell PowerScale OneFS

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Reference count
CWE: CWE-911 / CWE-664
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 216030
Nessus Name: EulerOS 2.0 SP12 : kernel (EulerOS-SA-2025-1176)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 5.15.83/6.0.13
Patch: 16854177745a/a5c6de1a6656/cb37617687f2

Timelineinfo

08/22/2024 🔍
10/21/2024 +60 days 🔍
10/21/2024 +0 days 🔍
01/18/2026 +454 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2022-48961 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2022-48961
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-281365
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2024-3251 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 10/21/2024 23:05
Updated: 01/18/2026 21:45
Changes: 10/21/2024 23:05 (57), 10/25/2024 00:27 (11), 02/11/2025 13:22 (2), 07/22/2025 19:54 (7), 09/29/2025 10:23 (1), 10/05/2025 07:43 (1), 01/18/2026 21:45 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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