Bug 2516292 (CVE-2026-72484)

Summary: CVE-2026-72484 kernel: staging: most: video: avoid double free on video register failure
Product: [Other] Security Response Reporter: OSIDB Bzimport <bzimport>
Component: vulnerabilityAssignee: Product Security DevOps Team <prodsec-dev>
Status: NEW --- QA Contact:
Severity: medium Docs Contact:
Priority: medium    
Version: unspecifiedCC: rhel-process-autobot, watson-tool-maintainers
Target Milestone: ---Keywords: Security
Target Release: ---   
Hardware: All   
OS: Linux   
Whiteboard:
Fixed In Version: Doc Type: ---
Doc Text:
A flaw was found in the Linux kernel, specifically within the `staging: most: video` subsystem. This vulnerability occurs when `comp_register_videodev()` attempts to release a `video_device` that might have already been freed during a failed device registration. A local attacker could exploit this double free vulnerability, potentially leading to memory corruption or a denial of service (DoS).
Story Points: ---
Clone Of: Environment:
Last Closed: Type: ---
Regression: --- Mount Type: ---
Documentation: --- CRM:
Verified Versions: Category: ---
oVirt Team: --- RHEL 7.3 requirements from Atomic Host:
Cloudforms Team: --- Target Upstream Version:
Embargoed:

Description OSIDB Bzimport 2026-08-15 06:04:51 UTC
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

staging: most: video: avoid double free on video register failure

comp_register_videodev() allocates a video_device with
video_device_alloc() and releases it if video_register_device() fails.

This can double free the video_device when __video_register_device()
reaches device_register() and that call fails:

  video_register_device()
    -> __video_register_device()
       -> device_register() fails
          -> put_device(&vdev->dev)
             -> v4l2_device_release()
                -> vdev->release(vdev)
                   -> video_device_release(vdev)

  comp_register_videodev()
    -> video_device_release(mdev->vdev)

Use video_device_release_empty() while registering the device so that
registration failure paths do not free mdev->vdev through vdev->release().
comp_register_videodev() then releases mdev->vdev exactly once on failure.
Restore video_device_release() after successful registration so the
registered device keeps its normal lifetime handling.

This issue was found by a static analysis tool I am developing.