CVE-2026-97969

/// Technical description

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

watchdog: msc313e: Fix clock leak and spurious timer in settimeout()

msc313e_wdt_settimeout() unconditionally calls msc313e_wdt_start() which

introduces two severe bugs:

1. If the watchdog is already active, calling start() again will

increase the reference count of the clock again. However stop() is

only called once, the reference count is unbalance.

2. If the watchdog is stopped, calling settimeout() will start

the hardware timer accidentally.

Factor out the register-writing logic into a helper function. Only call

it in settimeout() if the watchdog is running. Otherwise, simply update

`wdev->timeout`.

/// Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

/// References