CVE-2022-50246 usb: typec: tcpci: fix of node refcount leak in tcpci_register_port()
A refcount leak in the Linux kernel USB Type-C driver can cause memory leaks, potentially leading to denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2022-50246?
CVE-2022-50246 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 15 Sep 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
usb: typec: tcpci: fix of node refcount leak in tcpci_register_port()
I got the following report while doing device(mt6370-tcpc) load test with CONFIG_OF_UNITTEST and CONFIG_OF_DYNAMIC enabled:
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@34/tcpc/connector
The 'fwnode' set in tcpci_parse_config() which is called in tcpci_register_port(), its node refcount is increased in device_get_named_child_node(). It needs be put while exiting, so call fwnode_handle_put() in the error path of tcpci_register_port() and in tcpci_unregister_port() to avoid leak.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-50246?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2022-50246?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2022-50246 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-50246 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2022-50246, GHSA-48rc-gf37-67xr, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-50246.