net: macb: put the "mdio" child node reference on success (CVE-2026-97972) | HOL Guard CVE

Unknown severity · Source severity not reportedCVE-2026-97972

net: macb: put the "mdio" child node reference on success

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-97972 records a Unknown severity vulnerability in net: macb: put the "mdio" child node reference on success. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps Linux/Linux (generic), Linux/Linux (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Sep 25, 2026Updated Sep 25, 2026Source checked Sep 25, 2026First seen by HOL Sep 25, 2026Material review Sep 25, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: Unknown severitySource severity not reported
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 2 mapped packages or products
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

A CVSS score is not reported in the current record. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps Linux/Linux (generic), Linux/Linux (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
Linux/Linuxgeneric	>=8a6631f1cece09047fa44608d21d520ca65ce7d8 <5fba30080d298edb742396073372385c961578d3 \|\| >=8a6631f1cece09047fa44608d21d520ca65ce7d8 <7d60dc7ff85b73a2119d582ca2d4456b30960380 \|\| >=8a6631f1cece09047fa44608d21d520ca65ce7d8 <382a373d9ea7a6ac4de9c022385b6217f65ae3cc	5fba30080d298edb742396073372385c961578d3, 7d60dc7ff85b73a2119d582ca2d4456b30960380, 382a373d9ea7a6ac4de9c022385b6217f65ae3cc
Linux/Linuxgeneric	6.13	Not reported

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for Linux/Linux, Linux/Linux.
Review the reported fix. Update Linux/Linux to 5fba30080d298edb742396073372385c961578d3 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Sep 25, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 25, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 25, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: macb: put the "mdio" child node reference on success macb_mii_init() holds the reference returned by of_get_child_by_name() for macb_mdiobus_register() and drops it only on the error paths, so every successful probe leaks a node reference. On a CM5, overlay removal after four bind cycles reports OF: ERROR: memory leak, expected refcount 1 instead of 5 Drop the reference after registration, where __mdiobus_register() has already taken its own for the lifetime of the bus.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.