Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc1 SFP sfp_i2c_mdiobus_destroy allocation of resources

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3.8	$0-$5k	0.00+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc1. It has been classified as problematic. Impacted is the function sfp_i2c_mdiobus_destroy of the component SFP. Performing a manipulation results in allocation of resources. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-72391. The attack is only possible with local access. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc1. It has been classified as problematic. This affects the function sfp_i2c_mdiobus_destroy of the component SFP. 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. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: phy: sfp: free mii_bus in sfp_i2c_mdiobus_destroy sfp_i2c_mdiobus_create() allocates the I2C MDIO bus with mdio_i2c_alloc(), a plain (non-devm) allocation, and registers it. sfp_i2c_mdiobus_destroy() only unregisters the bus and clears sfp->i2c_mii without calling mdiobus_free(). As the only reference to the bus is then cleared, the struct mii_bus is leaked. This is hit whenever a copper/RollBall SFP module that instantiated an MDIO bus is removed: sfp_sm_main() takes the global teardown path and calls sfp_i2c_mdiobus_destroy(). sfp_cleanup(), on driver unbind, frees sfp->i2c_mii directly, which is why the leak only triggered on module hot-removal and not on unbind. Free the bus in sfp_i2c_mdiobus_destroy() to match the allocation done in sfp_i2c_mdiobus_create().

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-72391 since 08/09/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. Attacking locally is a requirement. The exploitation needs additional levels of successful authentication. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

Upgrading to version 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 92dd9a522f01ef57f633a8c1953cf6d48ef2bcd5/d2c37f26d1a37f8177be5f354537f8ee3ec31cc2/3183b6f5510c876a1c4b4a6bdc3d0ad8940fe742/86d379fcf1b79bdf4bc2ac891297f30f63d041d8/2381bf3f484e8e4fd89a225445872ec14e036ab5/8f31efff9206f9f0adb853cad6916086aac4d5ef is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.177
• 6.6.144
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
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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
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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
• 7.2-rc1

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: 4.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 3.8

VulDB Base Score: 4.0
VulDB Temp Score: 3.8
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: Allocation of resources
CWE: CWE-770 / CWE-400 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

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 6.1.178/6.6.145/6.12.97/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc2
Patch: 92dd9a522f01ef57f633a8c1953cf6d48ef2bcd5/d2c37f26d1a37f8177be5f354537f8ee3ec31cc2/3183b6f5510c876a1c4b4a6bdc3d0ad8940fe742/86d379fcf1b79bdf4bc2ac891297f30f63d041d8/2381bf3f484e8e4fd89a225445872ec14e036ab5/8f31efff9206f9f0adb853cad6916086aac4d5ef

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-2026-72391 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72391
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-391011

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 16:59
Changes: 08/15/2026 16:59 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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