{
  "affected": [
    {
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "8a6631f1cece09047fa44608d21d520ca65ce7d8"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "5fba30080d298edb742396073372385c961578d3"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "7d60dc7ff85b73a2119d582ca2d4456b30960380"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "382a373d9ea7a6ac4de9c022385b6217f65ae3cc"
            }
          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
          "type": "GIT"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Linux",
        "name": "Kernel"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "6.13.0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "6.18.53"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        },
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "6.19.0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "7.2.7"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cna_assigner": "Linux",
    "osv_generated_from": "https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/97xxx/CVE-2026-97972.json"
  },
  "details": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nnet: macb: put the \"mdio\" child node reference on success\n\nmacb_mii_init() holds the reference returned by of_get_child_by_name()\nfor macb_mdiobus_register() and drops it only on the error paths, so\nevery successful probe leaks a node reference. On a CM5, overlay\nremoval after four bind cycles reports\n\n  OF: ERROR: memory leak, expected refcount 1 instead of 5\n\nDrop the reference after registration, where __mdiobus_register() has\nalready taken its own for the lifetime of the bus.",
  "id": "CVE-2026-97972",
  "modified": "2026-09-27T03:30:29.728990866Z",
  "published": "2026-09-25T10:23:12.139Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/382a373d9ea7a6ac4de9c022385b6217f65ae3cc"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5fba30080d298edb742396073372385c961578d3"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7d60dc7ff85b73a2119d582ca2d4456b30960380"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/97xxx/CVE-2026-97972.json"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97972"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.9.0",
  "summary": "net: macb: put the \"mdio\" child node reference on success"
}