CVE-2022-48975

gpiolib: fix memory leak in gpiochip_setup_dev()

Published Oct 21, 2024 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

gpiolib: fix memory leak in gpiochip_setup_dev()

Here is a backtrace report about memory leak detected in
gpiochip_setup_dev():

unreferenced object 0xffff88810b406400 (size 512):
comm "python3", pid 1682, jiffies 4295346908 (age 24.090s)
backtrace:
kmalloc_trace
device_add device_private_init at drivers/base/core.c:3361
(inlined by) device_add at drivers/base/core.c:3411
cdev_device_add
gpiolib_cdev_register
gpiochip_setup_dev
gpiochip_add_data_with_key

gcdev_register() & gcdev_unregister() would call device_add() &
device_del() (no matter CONFIG_GPIO_CDEV is enabled or not) to
register/unregister device.

However, if device_add() succeeds, some resource (like
struct device_private allocated by device_private_init())
is not released by device_del().

Therefore, after device_add() succeeds by gcdev_register(), it
needs to call put_device() to release resource in the error handle
path.

Here we move forward the register of release function, and let it
release every piece of resource by put_device() instead of kfree().

While at it, fix another subtle issue, i.e. when gc->ngpio is equal
to 0, we still call kcalloc() and, in case of further error, kfree()
on the ZERO_PTR pointer, which is not NULL. It's not a bug per se,
but rather waste of the resources and potentially wrong expectation
about contents of the gdev->descs variable.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Weaknesses CWE-401
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc8:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: gpiolib: fix memory leak in gpiochip_setup_dev() Here is a backtrace report about memory leak detected in gpiochip_setup_dev(): unreferenced object 0xffff88810b406400 (size 512): comm "python3", pid 1682, jiffies 4295346908 (age 24.090s) backtrace: kmalloc_trace device_add device_private_init at drivers/base/core.c:3361 (inlined by) device_add at drivers/base/core.c:3411 cdev_device_add gpiolib_cdev_register gpiochip_setup_dev gpiochip_add_data_with_key gcdev_register() & gcdev_unregister() would call device_add() & device_del() (no matter CONFIG_GPIO_CDEV is enabled or not) to register/unregister device. However, if device_add() succeeds, some resource (like struct device_private allocated by device_private_init()) is not released by device_del(). Therefore, after device_add() succeeds by gcdev_register(), it needs to call put_device() to release resource in the error handle path. Here we move forward the register of release function, and let it release every piece of resource by put_device() instead of kfree(). While at it, fix another subtle issue, i.e. when gc->ngpio is equal to 0, we still call kcalloc() and, in case of further error, kfree() on the ZERO_PTR pointer, which is not NULL. It's not a bug per se, but rather waste of the resources and potentially wrong expectation about contents of the gdev->descs variable.
Title gpiolib: fix memory leak in gpiochip_setup_dev()
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
May 11, 2026, 6:50 PM
Reserved
Aug 22, 2024, 1:27 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Oct 21, 2024, 8:15 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 5:16 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 21, 2024, 12:00 AM