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.
Affected versions
Linux kernel versions
6.13
and later are affected. Fixed in
6.18.53,
7.2.7,
7.3-rc3
and their respective stable series.
References
3 totalFrequently asked questions
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What is CVE-2026-97972?
CVE-2026-97972 is a unscored severity Linux kernel vulnerability . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.13 onward and has been patched in 6.18.53, 7.2.7 and 7.3-rc3. CVE-2026-97972 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
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Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-97972?
Yes. CVE-2026-97972 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.18.53, 7.2.7 and 7.3-rc3. If you are running Linux kernel 6.13 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
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Is CVE-2026-97972 actively exploited?
No. CVE-2026-97972 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.