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

> A double free vulnerability in the Microchip PCI1xxxx driver allows attackers to cause a denial of service or potentially execute code via crafted error handling paths.

- **Severity:** High 8.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Jun 2024
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2024-36973, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-36973, GHSA-pqqr-79q5-9qwg, OESA-2026-1503, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-36973

## 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 (Double Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-36973?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-36973?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## 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](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-36973 and fix it if it is affected.

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

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-36973/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-36973/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-36973
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-36973
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-36973

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-36973/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.