CVE-2026-97972
Published Sep 25, 2026
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.
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References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-97972? +
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.
How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-97972? +
You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.