CVE-2024-42282

net: mediatek: Fix potential NULL pointer dereference in dummy net_device handling

Published Aug 17, 2024 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net: mediatek: Fix potential NULL pointer dereference in dummy net_device handling

Move the freeing of the dummy net_device from mtk_free_dev() to
mtk_remove().

Previously, if alloc_netdev_dummy() failed in mtk_probe(),
eth->dummy_dev would be NULL. The error path would then call
mtk_free_dev(), which in turn called free_netdev() assuming dummy_dev
was allocated (but it was not), potentially causing a NULL pointer
dereference.

By moving free_netdev() to mtk_remove(), we ensure it's only called when
mtk_probe() has succeeded and dummy_dev is fully allocated. This
addresses a potential NULL pointer dereference detected by Smatch[1].

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Weaknesses CWE-476
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
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: net: mediatek: Fix potential NULL pointer dereference in dummy net_device handling Move the freeing of the dummy net_device from mtk_free_dev() to mtk_remove(). Previously, if alloc_netdev_dummy() failed in mtk_probe(), eth->dummy_dev would be NULL. The error path would then call mtk_free_dev(), which in turn called free_netdev() assuming dummy_dev was allocated (but it was not), potentially causing a NULL pointer dereference. By moving free_netdev() to mtk_remove(), we ensure it's only called when mtk_probe() has succeeded and dummy_dev is fully allocated. This addresses a potential NULL pointer dereference detected by Smatch[1].
Title net: mediatek: Fix potential NULL pointer dereference in dummy net_device handling
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 3, 2026, 10:55 AM
Reserved
Jul 30, 2024, 7:40 AM
Status
Modified
Published
Aug 17, 2024, 9:15 AM
Modified
Oct 3, 2026, 11:17 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Aug 17, 2024, 12:00 AM