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CVE Record

CVE-2020-36777: media: dvbdev: Fix memory leak in dvb_media_device_free()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: dvbdev: Fix memory leak in dvb_media_device_free() dvb_media_device_free() is leaking memory. Free `dvbdev->adapter->conn` before setting it to NULL, as documented in include/media/media-device.h: "The media_entity instance itself must be freed explicitly by the driver if required."

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2020-36777 is a Linux kernel memory leak in the DVB media device cleanup path. The fix frees an allocated connection object before clearing its pointer. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, exploit evidence, or business-impact details.

Executive priority

Treat this as routine kernel maintenance unless your environment depends on DVB/media functionality. There is no source-backed active exploitation signal or CVSS score, but affected kernels should still be updated through normal patch cycles.

Technical view

The issue is in dvb_media_device_free(), where dvbdev->adapter->conn was set to NULL without explicitly freeing the media_entity-related allocation, contrary to documented driver responsibility. Kernel stable commits resolve this by freeing the connection before nulling it.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux kernels in the listed affected version range where DVB/media device code is present and the affected cleanup path can run. General Linux servers without relevant DVB/media hardware or drivers may have little practical exposure, but this should be verified per fleet.

Exploitation context

The bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation, public exploitability, or remote attack paths. The documented flaw is a memory leak, so the most plausible concern is resource exhaustion under conditions not fully described by the sources.

Researcher notes

The evidence is narrow: a resolved Linux kernel memory leak with stable commit references. The bundle does not describe trigger conditions, attacker privileges, exploitability, or impact beyond leaked memory in dvb_media_device_free(). Avoid assigning broader impact without additional vendor or kernel analysis.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor kernel package containing the referenced stable fix.
  • Prioritize systems using DVB/media hardware, drivers, or kernel modules.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for backported fixed versions.
  • If patch timing is constrained, review whether DVB/media modules are needed.
  • Monitor kernel memory behavior on systems that cannot be updated quickly.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions against the affected version list.
  • Confirm whether DVB/media drivers or modules are enabled on exposed systems.
  • Verify vendor changelogs include the dvbdev memory leak fix.
  • Check kernel build or package provenance for the referenced stable commits.
  • Review monitoring for unexplained kernel memory growth on relevant hosts.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2020-36777 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
9Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux0230d60e4661d9ced6fb0b9a30f182ebdafbba7a, 0230d60e4661d9ced6fb0b9a30f182ebdafbba7a, 0230d60e4661d9ced6fb0b9a30f182ebdafbba7a, 0230d60e4661d9ced6fb0b9a30f182ebdafbba7a, 0230d60e4661d9ced6fb0b9a30f182ebdafbba7a, 0230d60e4661d9ced6fb0b9a30f182ebdafbba7a, 0230d60e4661d9ced6fb0b9a30f182ebdafbba7a, 0230d60e4661d9ced6fb0b9a30f182ebdafbba7aunaffected
LinuxLinux4.5, 0, 4.9.269, 4.14.233, 4.19.191, 5.4.118, 5.10.36, 5.11.20, 5.12.3, 5.13affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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