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CVE Record

CVE-2022-50887: regulator: core: fix unbalanced of node refcount in regulator_dev_lookup()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: regulator: core: fix unbalanced of node refcount in regulator_dev_lookup() I got the the following report: OF: ERROR: memory leak, expected refcount 1 instead of 2, of_node_get()/of_node_put() unbalanced - destroy cset entry: attach overlay node /i2c/pmic@62/regulators/exten In of_get_regulator(), the node is returned from of_parse_phandle() with refcount incremented, after using it, of_node_put() need be called.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-50887 is a Linux kernel regulator-core bug that can leak memory by failing to release a device-tree node reference. The public record does not provide CVSS, CWE, or evidence of active exploitation. Business urgency is generally low unless you operate affected embedded or device-tree-heavy Linux systems.

Executive priority

Track and remediate through normal kernel maintenance unless you run exposed embedded platforms that rely on device-tree overlays. There is no source-supported evidence of active exploitation or high-impact compromise, but unresolved kernel leaks can affect reliability over time.

Technical view

In regulator_dev_lookup()/of_get_regulator(), of_parse_phandle() returns a node with an incremented refcount. The fix adds the missing of_node_put() after use. The observed symptom was an Open Firmware node refcount leak when destroying a configfs overlay entry involving a PMIC regulator node.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using affected kernel versions and Open Firmware/device-tree regulator paths. Embedded, ARM, SoC, and PMIC-based platforms are more relevant than standard server workloads. Confirm exposure through your OS vendor because distributions may backport the kernel fix without changing major version numbers.

Exploitation context

The provided sources show no CISA KEV listing and no cited evidence of active exploitation. The described issue is a memory leak/refcount imbalance, not a documented privilege escalation or remote code execution. Security impact depends on whether an attacker or workload can repeatedly trigger the affected regulator/device-tree path.

Researcher notes

The public description is narrow and code-level. It identifies a missing of_node_put() after of_parse_phandle() in the regulator path. The source bundle does not include CVSS, CWE, exploitability analysis, or attacker prerequisites, so severity should not be overstated.

Mitigation direction

  • Review your Linux vendor advisory or kernel changelog for CVE-2022-50887 coverage.
  • Update to a kernel containing the referenced stable regulator-core fix.
  • For appliances, request firmware updates from the device or board vendor.
  • Prioritize affected embedded systems using device-tree overlays or PMIC regulator definitions.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected systems.
  • Check vendor security notes for backported fixes to CVE-2022-50887.
  • Confirm the regulator-core patch is present in your kernel source or package changelog.
  • Review kernel logs for Open Firmware refcount leak messages if overlays are used.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
11

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-2022-50887 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
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
10Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux69511a452e6dc6b74fe4f3671a51b1b44b9c57e3, 69511a452e6dc6b74fe4f3671a51b1b44b9c57e3, 69511a452e6dc6b74fe4f3671a51b1b44b9c57e3, 69511a452e6dc6b74fe4f3671a51b1b44b9c57e3, 69511a452e6dc6b74fe4f3671a51b1b44b9c57e3, 69511a452e6dc6b74fe4f3671a51b1b44b9c57e3, 69511a452e6dc6b74fe4f3671a51b1b44b9c57e3, 69511a452e6dc6b74fe4f3671a51b1b44b9c57e3, 69511a452e6dc6b74fe4f3671a51b1b44b9c57e3unaffected
LinuxLinux3.3, 0, 4.9.337, 4.14.303, 4.19.270, 5.4.229, 5.10.163, 5.15.86, 6.0.16, 6.1.2, 6.2affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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