CVE-2026-31621: bnge: return after auxiliary_device_uninit() in error path

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-31621 is a medium (CVSS 5.5) Use of Uninitialized Resource vulnerability in linux. EPSS estimates a 0.12% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 1.8% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 24-04-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 14-06-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bnge: return after auxiliary_device_uninit() in error path When auxiliary_device_add() fails, the error block calls auxiliary_device_uninit() but does not return. The uninit drops the last reference and synchronously runs bnge_aux_dev_release(), which sets bd->auxr_dev = NULL and frees the underlying object. The subsequent bd->auxr_dev->net = bd->netdev then dereferences NULL, which is not a good thing to have happen when trying to clean up from an error. Add the missing return, as the auxiliary bus documentation states is a requirement (seems that LLM tools read documentation better than humans do...)

• CWE-908Use of Uninitialized ResourceThe product uses or accesses a resource that has not been initialized.