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CVE Record

CVE-2022-48815: net: dsa: bcm_sf2: don't use devres for mdiobus

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: dsa: bcm_sf2: don't use devres for mdiobus As explained in commits: 74b6d7d13307 ("net: dsa: realtek: register the MDIO bus under devres") 5135e96a3dd2 ("net: dsa: don't allocate the slave_mii_bus using devres") mdiobus_free() will panic when called from devm_mdiobus_free() <- devres_release_all() <- __device_release_driver(), and that mdiobus was not previously unregistered. The Starfighter 2 is a platform device, so the initial set of constraints that I thought would cause this (I2C or SPI buses which call ->remove on ->shutdown) do not apply. But there is one more which applies here. If the DSA master itself is on a bus that calls ->remove from ->shutdown (like dpaa2-eth, which is on the fsl-mc bus), there is a device link between the switch and the DSA master, and device_links_unbind_consumers() will unbind the bcm_sf2 switch driver on shutdown. So the same treatment must be applied to all DSA switch drivers, which is: either use devres for both the mdiobus allocation and registration, or don't use devres at all. The bcm_sf2 driver has the code structure in place for orderly mdiobus removal, so just replace devm_mdiobus_alloc() with the non-devres variant, and add manual free where necessary, to ensure that we don't let devres free a still-registered bus.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue can cause a kernel panic when certain Broadcom Starfighter 2 switch driver resources are released during shutdown or driver unbinding. It is most relevant to embedded or networking systems using this driver. Public sources do not show active exploitation or a CVSS score.

Executive priority

Treat as targeted maintenance for affected networking or embedded Linux assets. It is not currently a broad emergency, but it can affect availability on devices that rely on this switch driver. Patch through normal kernel or firmware update channels.

Technical view

The bcm_sf2 DSA driver used devres allocation for an MDIO bus that could still be registered when devres cleanup ran. In shutdown paths involving device links, such as a DSA master on a bus that removes devices during shutdown, mdiobus_free() could panic. Kernel stable commits replace devm_mdiobus_alloc() with manual allocation and cleanup.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to Linux systems using the Broadcom bcm_sf2 DSA switch driver, especially embedded networking platforms. Generic Linux servers without this hardware or driver path are unlikely to be affected. Exact distribution exposure depends on vendor kernel backports.

Exploitation context

The source describes a crash condition during shutdown or driver unbinding, not remote code execution. No KEV listing or provided source indicates active exploitation. Practical impact appears to be denial of service or unreliable shutdown on specific hardware and driver configurations.

Researcher notes

The CVE record provides no CVSS, CWE, or exploit evidence. The key condition is a still-registered MDIO bus freed through devres cleanup during bcm_sf2 unbind. Validate against actual kernel source or vendor backports rather than version strings alone.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced stable bcm_sf2 fix commits.
  • Check distribution or device vendor advisories for backported fixes.
  • Prioritize embedded networking devices using Broadcom Starfighter 2 switch hardware.
  • If no vendor fix is available, follow vendor guidance for operational workarounds.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory systems for Linux kernels using the bcm_sf2 DSA driver.
  • Identify kernel version and vendor patch level against referenced stable commits.
  • Review shutdown or driver-unbind logs for kernel panic traces involving mdiobus_free or bcm_sf2.
  • Confirm fixed kernels no longer use devres allocation for this bcm_sf2 MDIO bus path.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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

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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
5Source 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

CVECVE Program Container
CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxac3a68d56651c3dad2c12c7afce065fe15267f44, ac3a68d56651c3dad2c12c7afce065fe15267f44, ac3a68d56651c3dad2c12c7afce065fe15267f44, ac3a68d56651c3dad2c12c7afce065fe15267f44unaffected
LinuxLinux5.9, 0, 5.10.101, 5.15.24, 5.16.10, 5.17affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.