CVE-2024-36973 misc: microchip: pci1xxxx: fix double free in the error handling of gp_aux_bus_probe()

What is CVE-2024-36973?

CVE-2024-36973 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 17 Jun 2024. 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:

misc: microchip: pci1xxxx: fix double free in the error handling of gp_aux_bus_probe()

When auxiliary_device_add() returns error and then calls auxiliary_device_uninit(), callback function gp_auxiliary_device_release() calls ida_free() and kfree(aux_device_wrapper) to free memory. We should't call them again in the error handling path.

Fix this by skipping the redundant cleanup functions.

Weakness: CWE-415

Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-36973?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2024-36973?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2024-36973 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-36973 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

• CVE-2026-53266 Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2013-6282 Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2022-0185 Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2013-2094 Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2026-53362 Linux Kernel Unspecified Exploited High 7.8

All Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as BELL-CVE-2024-36973, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-36973, GHSA-pqqr-79q5-9qwg, OESA-2026-1503, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-36973.