CVE-2026-45989: of: unittest: fix use-after-free in testdrv_probe()

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-45989 is a high (CVSS 7.8) Use After Free vulnerability in linux. EPSS estimates a 0.16% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 5.5% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 27-05-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 14-06-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: of: unittest: fix use-after-free in testdrv_probe() The function testdrv_probe() retrieves the device_node from the PCI device, applies an overlay, and then immediately calls of_node_put(dn). This releases the reference held by the PCI core, potentially freeing the node if the reference count drops to zero. Later, the same freed pointer 'dn' is passed to of_platform_default_populate(), leading to a use-after-free. The reference to pdev->dev.of_node is owned by the device model and should not be released by the driver. Remove the erroneous of_node_put() to prevent premature freeing.

• CWE-416Use After FreeThe product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.