CVE-2026-97973: Linux kernel · net: macb: destroy the phylink instance on the probe error path
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 Sep 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix has been applied to the Linux kernel to properly destroy the phylink instance on the probe error path. Users should update to a patched kernel version containing this fix to remediate the issue.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's macb network driver was resolved. The issue involved a resource leak where the phylink instance created during initialization was not destroyed on certain probe error paths, leading to a memory leak. This was fixed by ensuring the phylink instance is properly destroyed during error handling.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-97973 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-97973 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7d059f390750152b9bd69df934198651b94fc26d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/23b6a44ffea1c54a4232aa86ee470b21422a8cc5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e92a45b872b035c79acde8dd0da096a72b61ff2f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8558e3195664113c14a4d8fcf221b3caff41fed1 (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97973 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0112aa02c7847314be599d68783d50c7e228a694 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c1de1e7b51ab2531f564b39b51998c3d71caccd7 (opens in a new tab)