Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4 mfd sm501_register_device memory leak

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4.7	$0-$5k	1.47

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function sm501_register_device of the component mfd. Executing a manipulation can lead to memory leak. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-72240. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4. This vulnerability affects the function sm501_register_device of the component mfd. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mfd: sm501: Fix reference leak on failed device registration When platform_device_register() fails in sm501_register_device(), the embedded struct device in pdev has already been initialized by device_initialize(), but the failure path only reports the error and returns without dropping the device reference for the current platform device: sm501_register_device() -> platform_device_register(pdev) -> device_initialize(&pdev->dev) -> setup_pdev_dma_masks(pdev) -> platform_device_add(pdev) This leads to a reference leak when platform_device_register() fails. Fix this by calling platform_device_put() before returning the error. The issue was identified by a static analysis tool I developed and confirmed by manual review.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-72240 since 08/09/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploitation needs additional levels of successful authentication. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. This vulnerability is assigned to T1499 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

Upgrading to version 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch bbb1ecaed4ed7680e63d3a0f143f03de32de5d6e/e2dac91380a10e9e8d5883fb73ce9d9b390a629c/0baf9d43a7b7b43df2900bd8656e75b725028b6e/a3e340d506c1036a747fb0972aebf1063f7ef30e/760a1029692f1d788dc11aa636a3bf432e58b240/16a42c88c4667fa0bd944e438a667e059551f1f1/2ff8156fd500d54c61430b6834137fd0a07047ce/8c2f0b42fc252e1bf1c7746447091a468e784ca1 is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.10.260
• 5.15.211
• 6.1.177
• 6.6.144
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
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• 6.12.90
• 6.12.91
• 6.12.92
• 6.12.93
• 6.12.94
• 6.12.95
• 6.12.96
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9
• 6.18.10
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• 6.18.33
• 6.18.34
• 6.18.35
• 6.18.36
• 6.18.37
• 6.18.38
• 6.18.39
• 7.1.0
• 7.1.1
• 7.1.2
• 7.1.3
• 7.1.4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.7

VulDB Base Score: 4.9
VulDB Temp Score: 4.7
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory leak
CWE: CWE-401 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.261/5.15.212/6.1.178/6.6.145/6.12.97/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc1
Patch: bbb1ecaed4ed7680e63d3a0f143f03de32de5d6e/e2dac91380a10e9e8d5883fb73ce9d9b390a629c/0baf9d43a7b7b43df2900bd8656e75b725028b6e/a3e340d506c1036a747fb0972aebf1063f7ef30e/760a1029692f1d788dc11aa636a3bf432e58b240/16a42c88c4667fa0bd944e438a667e059551f1f1/2ff8156fd500d54c61430b6834137fd0a07047ce/8c2f0b42fc252e1bf1c7746447091a468e784ca1

Timelineinfo

08/09/2026 CVE reserved
08/15/2026 +6 days Advisory disclosed
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-72240 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72240
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390646

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 13:37
Changes: 08/15/2026 13:37 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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