CVE-2022-48961

Local denial of service via fwnode leak

Published Oct 21, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

Resource leak in affected Linux kernel releases from 4.5 allows local users to exhaust memory through repeated MDIO device release. The of_mdiobus_register_device() path increments the firmware-node reference with fwnode_handle_get(), but mdio_device_release() omits the matching fwnode_handle_put(), retaining each node reference. Reaching the leak requires local access and an MDIO device tied to a firmware node; repeated device teardown can exhaust system memory and interrupt service.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Resource leak in affected Linux kernel releases from 4.5 allows local users to exhaust memory through repeated MDIO device release. The of_mdiobus_register_device() path increments the firmware-node reference with fwnode_handle_get(), but mdio_device_release() omits the matching fwnode_handle_put(), retaining each node reference. Reaching the leak requires local access and an MDIO device tied to a firmware node; repeated device teardown can exhaust system memory and interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-48961
Published
Oct 21, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-401, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 21, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.5
  2. Affected versionversion=a9049e0c513c4521dbfaa302af8ed08b3366b41f <16854177745a5648f8ec322353b432e18460f43a
  3. Affected versionversion=a9049e0c513c4521dbfaa302af8ed08b3366b41f <a5c6de1a6656b8cc6bce7cb3d9874dd7df4968c3
  4. Affected versionversion=a9049e0c513c4521dbfaa302af8ed08b3366b41f <cb37617687f2bfa5b675df7779f869147c9002bd

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.5; version=a9049e0c513c4521dbfaa302af8ed08b3366b41f <16854177745a5648f8ec322353b432e18460f43a; version=a9049e0c513c4521dbfaa302af8ed08b3366b41f <a5c6de1a6656b8cc6bce7cb3d9874dd7df4968c3; version=a9049e0c513c4521dbfaa302af8ed08b3366b41f <cb37617687f2bfa5b675df7779f869147c9002bd

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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