Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

usbnet: Run unregister_netdev() before unbind() again

Commit 2c9d6c2b871d ("usbnet: run unbind() before unregister_netdev()")
sought to fix a use-after-free on disconnect of USB Ethernet adapters.

It turns out that a different fix is necessary to address the issue:
https://lore.kernel.org/netdev/18b3541e5372bc9b9fc733d422f4e698c089077c.1650177997.git.lukas@wunner.de/

So the commit was not necessary.

The commit made binding and unbinding of USB Ethernet asymmetrical:
Before, usbnet_probe() first invoked the ->bind() callback and then
register_netdev(). usbnet_disconnect() mirrored that by first invoking
unregister_netdev() and then ->unbind().

Since the commit, the order in usbnet_disconnect() is reversed and no
longer mirrors usbnet_probe().

One consequence is that a PHY disconnected (and stopped) in ->unbind()
is afterwards stopped once more by unregister_netdev() as it closes the
netdev before unregistering. That necessitates a contortion in ->stop()
because the PHY may only be stopped if it hasn't already been
disconnected.

Reverting the commit allows making the call to phy_stop() unconditional
in ->stop().
Published: 2025-02-26
Score: 7.8 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2022-54728 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usbnet: Run unregister_netdev() before unbind() again Commit 2c9d6c2b871d ("usbnet: run unbind() before unregister_netdev()") sought to fix a use-after-free on disconnect of USB Ethernet adapters. It turns out that a different fix is necessary to address the issue: https://lore.kernel.org/netdev/18b3541e5372bc9b9fc733d422f4e698c089077c.1650177997.git.lukas@wunner.de/ So the commit was not necessary. The commit made binding and unbinding of USB Ethernet asymmetrical: Before, usbnet_probe() first invoked the ->bind() callback and then register_netdev(). usbnet_disconnect() mirrored that by first invoking unregister_netdev() and then ->unbind(). Since the commit, the order in usbnet_disconnect() is reversed and no longer mirrors usbnet_probe(). One consequence is that a PHY disconnected (and stopped) in ->unbind() is afterwards stopped once more by unregister_netdev() as it closes the netdev before unregistering. That necessitates a contortion in ->stop() because the PHY may only be stopped if it hasn't already been disconnected. Reverting the commit allows making the call to phy_stop() unconditional in ->stop().
History

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 02:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics threat_severity

Low

 threat_severity

None

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 20:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 03:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 01:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

 threat_severity

Low

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 19:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 02:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usbnet: Run unregister_netdev() before unbind() again Commit 2c9d6c2b871d ("usbnet: run unbind() before unregister_netdev()") sought to fix a use-after-free on disconnect of USB Ethernet adapters. It turns out that a different fix is necessary to address the issue: https://lore.kernel.org/netdev/18b3541e5372bc9b9fc733d422f4e698c089077c.1650177997.git.lukas@wunner.de/ So the commit was not necessary. The commit made binding and unbinding of USB Ethernet asymmetrical: Before, usbnet_probe() first invoked the ->bind() callback and then register_netdev(). usbnet_disconnect() mirrored that by first invoking unregister_netdev() and then ->unbind(). Since the commit, the order in usbnet_disconnect() is reversed and no longer mirrors usbnet_probe(). One consequence is that a PHY disconnected (and stopped) in ->unbind() is afterwards stopped once more by unregister_netdev() as it closes the netdev before unregistering. That necessitates a contortion in ->stop() because the PHY may only be stopped if it hasn't already been disconnected. Reverting the commit allows making the call to phy_stop() unconditional in ->stop().
Title usbnet: Run unregister_netdev() before unbind() again
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-05-11T19:01:08.248Z

Reserved: 2025-02-26T02:08:31.586Z

Link: CVE-2022-49501

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2025-02-27T18:15:43.221Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2025-02-26T07:01:26.257

Modified: 2025-03-24T19:43:13.750

Link: CVE-2022-49501

cve-icon Redhat

Severity :

Publid Date: 2025-02-26T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2022-49501 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses