net: netsec: fix device_node reference leak on phy_np
Subsystems (3)
PATCH 1/1 net: netsec: fix device_node reference leak on phy_np
netsec_of_probe() takes a reference on the PHY device_node with of_parse_phandle() and stores it in priv->phy_np, but the driver never drops it. One device_node reference is leaked per probe, on the success path as well as on every error path reached after netsec_of_probe().
Neither consumer takes ownership. of_mdio_parse_addr() is a static inline taking a const struct device_node * that only reads the "reg" property. of_phy_connect() borrows as well: of_phy_get_and_connect() in drivers/net/mdio/of_mdio.c brackets its own call with of_node_get() at :364 and of_node_put() at :373, which would be a double put if of_phy_connect() consumed the reference.
The node is still in use at netsec_netdev_open() time, where it is passed to of_phy_connect(), so it has device lifetime. Release it at the probe error label, which every failure path after the acquire funnels through, and in netsec_remove(). Both releases precede free_netdev(), since priv is netdev_priv(ndev). The ACPI probe path leaves priv->phy_np NULL and of_node_put(NULL) is a no-op.
There is no end-user visible symptom on currently supported platforms:
a device_node is only freed once OF_DYNAMIC is enabled and the node has been detached, so on a static device tree the imbalance is inert. It is observable as a refcount that grows across bind/unbind cycles, and would matter under device tree overlays.
Found by static analysis of reference acquire/release pairing rather than from a runtime report. No reproducer was produced and the change has not been runtime tested; it is compile-tested only (arm64, CONFIG_SNI_NETSEC=m via COMPILE_TEST).
--- drivers/net/ethernet/socionext/netsec.c | 2 ++ 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+)
drivers/net/ethernet/socionext/netsec.c +2 -0
@@ -2149,6 +2149,7 @@ static int netsec_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)pm_runtime_put_sync (&pdev->dev);pm_runtime_disable (&pdev->dev); free_ndev: +of_node_put (priv->phy_np);free_netdev (ndev);dev_err (&pdev->dev,"init failed\n" );
@@ -2166,6 +2167,7 @@ static void netsec_remove(struct platform_device *pdev)netif_napi_del (&priv->napi);pm_runtime_disable (&pdev->dev); +of_node_put (priv->phy_np);free_netdev (priv->ndev); }
Signature · 1 line
2.50.1 (Apple Git-155)
Quoted 25 lines · Yige Jiang
netsec_of_probe()takes a reference on the PHYdevice_nodewithof_parse_phandle()and stores it inpriv->phy_np, but the driver never drops it. Onedevice_nodereference is leaked per probe, on the success path as well as on every error path reached afternetsec_of_probe().Neither consumer takes ownership.
of_mdio_parse_addr()is a static inline taking a const structdevice_node* that only reads the "reg" property.of_phy_connect()borrows as well:of_phy_get_and_connect()indrivers/net/mdio/of_mdio.cbrackets its own call withof_node_get()at :364 andof_node_put()at :373, which would be a double put ifof_phy_connect()consumed the reference.The node is still in use at
netsec_netdev_open()time, where it is passed toof_phy_connect(), so it has device lifetime. Release it at the probe error label, which every failure path after the acquire funnels through, and innetsec_remove(). Both releases precedefree_netdev(), since priv isnetdev_priv(ndev). The ACPI probe path leavespriv->phy_npNULL andof_node_put(NULL)is a no-op.There is no end-user visible symptom on currently supported platforms:
adevice_nodeis only freed onceOF_DYNAMICis enabled and the node has been detached, so on a static device tree the imbalance is inert. It is observable as a refcount that grows across bind/unbind cycles, and would matter under device tree overlays.
Quoted 8 lines
Found by static analysis of reference acquire/release pairing rather than from a runtime report. No reproducer was produced and the change has not been runtime tested; it is compile-tested only (arm64,
CONFIG_SNI_NETSEC=mviaCOMPILE_TEST).Fixes 533dd11a12f6 ("net: socionext: Add Synquacer NetSec driver")Assisted-by LLMSigned-off-by Yige Jiang <[email protected]>
Quoted 25 lines
netsec_of_probe()takes a reference on the PHYdevice_nodewithof_parse_phandle()and stores it inpriv->phy_np, but the driver never drops it. Onedevice_nodereference is leaked per probe, on the success path as well as on every error path reached afternetsec_of_probe().Neither consumer takes ownership.
of_mdio_parse_addr()is a static inline taking a const structdevice_node* that only reads the "reg" property.of_phy_connect()borrows as well:of_phy_get_and_connect()indrivers/net/mdio/of_mdio.cbrackets its own call withof_node_get()at :364 andof_node_put()at :373, which would be a double put ifof_phy_connect()consumed the reference.The node is still in use at
netsec_netdev_open()time, where it is passed toof_phy_connect(), so it has device lifetime. Release it at the probe error label, which every failure path after the acquire funnels through, and innetsec_remove(). Both releases precedefree_netdev(), since priv isnetdev_priv(ndev). The ACPI probe path leavespriv->phy_npNULL andof_node_put(NULL)is a no-op.There is no end-user visible symptom on currently supported platforms:
adevice_nodeis only freed onceOF_DYNAMICis enabled and the node has been detached, so on a static device tree the imbalance is inert. It is observable as a refcount that grows across bind/unbind cycles, and would matter under device tree overlays.
Quoted 4 lines
Found by static analysis of reference acquire/release pairing rather than from a runtime report. No reproducer was produced and the change has not been runtime tested; it is compile-tested only (arm64,
CONFIG_SNI_NETSEC=mviaCOMPILE_TEST).
Tested on SynQuacer.
Verified repeated load/unload cycles and network connectivity.
Quoted 33 lines
Fixes 533dd11a12f6 ("net: socionext: Add Synquacer NetSec driver")Assisted-by LLMSigned-off-by Yige Jiang <[email protected]>--- drivers/net/ethernet/socionext/netsec.c | 2 ++ 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+)drivers/net/ethernet/socionext/netsec.c +2
-1@@ -2149,6 +2149,7 @@ static int netsec_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)pm_runtime_put_sync (&pdev->dev);pm_runtime_disable (&pdev->dev); free_ndev: +of_node_put (priv->phy_np);free_netdev (ndev);dev_err (&pdev->dev,"init failed\n" );@@ -2166,6 +2167,7 @@ static void netsec_remove(struct platform_device *pdev)netif_napi_del (&priv->napi);pm_runtime_disable (&pdev->dev); +of_node_put (priv->phy_np);free_netdev (priv->ndev); } --2.50.1 (Apple Git-155)
This patch was applied to netdev/net.git (main) by Jakub Kicinski <[email protected]>:
Hello:
This patch was applied to netdev/net.git (main)
by Jakub Kicinski <[email protected]>:
Quoted 5 lines · On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 14:41:02 +0800 you wrote:
netsec_of_probe()takes a reference on the PHYdevice_nodewithof_parse_phandle()and stores it inpriv->phy_np, but the driver never drops it. Onedevice_nodereference is leaked per probe, on the success path as well as on every error path reached afternetsec_of_probe().
Quoted 8 lines
Neither consumer takes ownership.
of_mdio_parse_addr()is a static inline taking a const structdevice_node* that only reads the "reg" property.of_phy_connect()borrows as well:of_phy_get_and_connect()indrivers/net/mdio/of_mdio.cbrackets its own call withof_node_get()at :364 andof_node_put()at :373, which would be a double put ifof_phy_connect()consumed the reference.[...]
Here is the summary with links:
- [net-next] net: netsec: fix device_node reference leak on phy_np
https://git.kernel.org/netdev/net/c/5ae916fabca1
You are awesome, thank you!
Signature · 2 lines
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