CVE-2024-50021: ice: Fix improper handling of refcount in ice_dpll_init_rclk_pins()

Severity: medium (CVSS 5.5 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.2% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2024-10-21 · updated 2026-06-17

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ice: Fix improper handling of refcount in ice_dpll_init_rclk_pins() This patch addresses a reference count handling issue in the ice_dpll_init_rclk_pins() function. The function calls ice_dpll_get_pins(), which increments the reference count of the relevant resources. However, if the condition WARN_ON((!vsi || !vsi->netdev)) is met, the function currently returns an error without properly releasing the resources acquired by ice_dpll_get_pins(), leading to a reference count leak. To resolve this, the check has been moved to the top of the function. This ensures that the function verifies the state before any resources are acquired, avoiding the need for additional resource management in the error path. This bug was identified by an experimental static analysis tool developed by our team. The tool specializes in analyzing reference count operations and detecting potential issues where resources are not properly managed. In this case, the tool flagged the missing release operation as a potential problem, which led to the development of this patch.

Affected products

Linux kernel: from 6.7 before 6.11.4; 6.12-rc1, 6.12-rc2 — fixed in 6.11.4

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 6.11.4. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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