CVE-2026-31732: gpio: Fix resource leaks on errors in gpiochip_add_data_with_key()

Severity: medium (CVSS 5.5 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.1% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-05-01 · updated 2026-07-04
Weakness: CWE-401

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: gpio: Fix resource leaks on errors in gpiochip_add_data_with_key() Since commit aab5c6f20023 ("gpio: set device type for GPIO chips"), `gdev->dev.release` is unset. As a result, the reference count to `gdev->dev` isn't dropped on the error handling paths. Drop the reference on errors. Also reorder the instructions to make the error handling simpler. Now gpiochip_add_data_with_key() roughly looks like: >>> Some memory allocation. Go to ERR ZONE 1 on errors. >>> device_initialize(). gpiodev_release() takes over the responsibility for freeing the resources of `gdev->dev`. The subsequent error handling paths shouldn't go through ERR ZONE 1 again which leads to double free. >>> Some initialization mainly on `gdev`. >>> The rest of initialization. Go to ERR ZONE 2 on errors. >>> Chip registration success and exit. >>> ERR ZONE 2. gpio_device_put() and exit. >>> ERR ZONE 1.

Affected products

Linux kernel: from 6.9 before 6.18.22; from 6.19 before 6.19.12; 7.0-rc1, 7.0-rc2, 7.0-rc3, 7.0-rc4, 7.0-rc5, 7.0-rc6 — fixed in 6.18.22, 6.19.12

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 6.18.22, 6.19.12. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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