CVE-2025-71272 most: core: fix resource leak in most_register_interface error paths
A resource leak in the Linux kernel's MOST driver allows attackers to cause memory exhaustion and denial of service via error paths.
- 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-2025-71272?
CVE-2025-71272 is a medium-severity denial of service vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 6 May 2026. 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:
most: core: fix resource leak in most_register_interface error paths
The function most_register_interface() did not correctly release resources if it failed early (before registering the device). In these cases, it returned an error code immediately, leaking the memory allocated for the interface.
Fix this by initializing the device early via device_initialize() and calling put_device() on all error paths.
The most_register_interface() is expected to call put_device() on error which frees the resources allocated in the caller. The put_device() either calls release_mdev() or dim2_release(), depending on the caller.
Switch to using device_add() instead of device_register() to handle the split initialization.
Weakness: CWE-401
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-71272?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-71272?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, then put limits on request size, rate and nesting depth so one client cannot exhaust the service. More about Denial of service.
Is CVE-2025-71272 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-71272 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2025-71272, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-71272, GHSA-hgp5-3fhg-p5cf, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2025-71272, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2025-71272, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2025-71272 and 2 more.