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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2024-44971: Linux kernel · net: dsa: bcm_sf2: Fix a possible memory leak in bcm_sf2_mdio_register()

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.15.0-1072.78~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.

Data as of 27 Oct 2026, 00:01 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
5.5Medium
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
Patch
Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1072.78~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1078.87~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1071.79~20.04.1 +52
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 4 Sep 2024

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq Mirage: no evidence on record.

    No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.

What to do

Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-50.51
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-50.51
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1020.22
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1020.22
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1020.23
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1020.23
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1019.21
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1019.21
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1015.19
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1015.19
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gkeoppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gkeop?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1002.4
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1002.4

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

AI-suggested

A patch is available and has been released in multiple Linux kernel versions, including various 5.15.x and 5.0.x series kernels used in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. Users should update their Linux kernel to one of the fixed versions listed (e.g., 5.15.0-1072.78~20.04.1 or later) to remediate this memory leak. No additional mitigation actions are required beyond applying the official kernel updates.

Description

A memory leak vulnerability was identified and fixed in the bcm_sf2_mdio_register() function of the Linux kernel's bcm_sf2 DSA driver. The issue arises because the function calls of_phy_find_device(), which increments a device reference count, but fails to decrement it properly, leading to a memory leak. This flaw affects multiple Linux kernel versions prior to the fixed releases. The vulnerability has a medium severity score and does not impact confidentiality or integrity but can cause availability issues due to resource exhaustion. Official patches are available in several Linux kernel versions to address this problem.

References

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