CVE-2026-43301: Linux kernel · media: chips-media: wave5: Fix PM runtime usage count underflow
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 1% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 8 May 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by 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
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been applied to the affected Linux kernel versions. Users should update to patched kernel versions to resolve this issue. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's chips-media wave5 driver caused a runtime PM usage count underflow due to improper handling of power management reference counts during device removal. This underflow triggers a warning on module unload but does not impact confidentiality or integrity, only availability. The issue has been resolved by replacing pm_runtime_put_sync() with pm_runtime_dont_use_autosuspend() in the remove path to correctly pair with pm_runtime_use_autosuspend() from probe, ensuring proper reference count cleanup.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-43301 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-43301 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/9cf4452e824c1e2d41c9c0b13cc8a32a0a7dec38 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0bffda02317989f8d5cdc2d4462a4110b1290cf0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3a278a55ead50db2444c8f01410c7f5a68723990 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9cf4452e824c1e2d41c9c0b13cc8a32a0a7dec38 (opens in a new tab)