Linux Kernel up to 5.15.45/5.17.13/5.18.2 of_find_compatible_node reference count

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.45/5.17.13/5.18.2. It has been classified as critical. Affected is the function of_find_compatible_node. This manipulation causes reference count. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2022-49437. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.45/5.17.13/5.18.2. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function of_find_compatible_node. 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: powerpc/xive: Fix refcount leak in xive_spapr_init of_find_compatible_node() returns a node pointer with refcount incremented, we should use of_node_put() on it when done. Add missing of_node_put() to avoid refcount leak.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2022-49437 since 02/26/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 274839 (RHEL 9 : kernel (RHSA-2025:20518)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.15.46, 5.17.14 or 5.18.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 65f11ccdd746e0e7f0b469cc989ba43d4f30ecfe/6e806485d851986a2445267608f27cb4ba2ed774/cc62dde2a5f4ba14016fd9caec76f08d388f4b9c/1d1fb9618bdd5a5fbf9a9eb75133da301d33721c 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 (274839). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 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
• 5.15.24
• 5.15.25
• 5.15.26
• 5.15.27
• 5.15.28
• 5.15.29
• 5.15.30
• 5.15.31
• 5.15.32
• 5.15.33
• 5.15.34
• 5.15.35
• 5.15.36
• 5.15.37
• 5.15.38
• 5.15.39
• 5.15.40
• 5.15.41
• 5.15.42
• 5.15.43
• 5.15.44
• 5.15.45
• 5.17.0
• 5.17.1
• 5.17.2
• 5.17.3
• 5.17.4
• 5.17.5
• 5.17.6
• 5.17.7
• 5.17.8
• 5.17.9
• 5.17.10
• 5.17.11
• 5.17.12
• 5.17.13
• 5.18.0
• 5.18.1
• 5.18.2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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