Revert "media: v4l2-dev: fix error handling in __video_register_device()"
This reverts commit 2a934fdb01db6458288fc9386d3d8ceba6dd551a.
The intentions of that patch were good, but it doesn't work.
The idea is that if device_register fails, you have to do a put_device
to let the ref counter release resources.
However, the V4L2 API says that if video_register_device() fails, then
you have to call video_device_release(), which kfree()s the video_device
struct.
But the put_device() will already have freed the struct, so you end
up in a double-free scenario.
There is not really a good way of fixing this without breaking
video_register_device() into two parts, one that initializes everything,
and one that does the actual device_register, and then converting all
V4L2 drivers to this new model.
That is a massive job, and it is very unlikely that device_register
will fail.
So rather than ending up in a double-free scenario, just revert this
patch, and in that case we'll have a small memory leak. Which is a lot
more robust.
Analysis
Analysis and contextual insights are available on OpenCVE Cloud.
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
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| Linux | Linux | unaffected |
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| Linux | Linux | affected |
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No data.
No data.
No data available yet.
No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.
Additional remediation guidance may be available on OpenCVE Cloud.
Tracking
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Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:45:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Revert "media: v4l2-dev: fix error handling in __video_register_device()" This reverts commit 2a934fdb01db6458288fc9386d3d8ceba6dd551a. The intentions of that patch were good, but it doesn't work. The idea is that if device_register fails, you have to do a put_device to let the ref counter release resources. However, the V4L2 API says that if video_register_device() fails, then you have to call video_device_release(), which kfree()s the video_device struct. But the put_device() will already have freed the struct, so you end up in a double-free scenario. There is not really a good way of fixing this without breaking video_register_device() into two parts, one that initializes everything, and one that does the actual device_register, and then converting all V4L2 drivers to this new model. That is a massive job, and it is very unlikely that device_register will fail. So rather than ending up in a double-free scenario, just revert this patch, and in that case we'll have a small memory leak. Which is a lot more robust. | |
| Title | Revert "media: v4l2-dev: fix error handling in __video_register_device()" | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-09-11T19:46:47.877Z
Reserved: 2026-09-11T19:38:34.761Z
Link: CVE-2026-89741
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-09-11T20:20:04.720
Modified: 2026-09-11T20:20:04.720
Link: CVE-2026-89741
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
No weakness.