CVE-2026-98008: Linux kernel · net: macb: fix NULL pointer dereference on unbind with fixed-link
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · fixed in f737d999fcb8f276d77b01ea4c2016ee01dad19b : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
Rated Medium by Threat Radar's AI analysis · 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.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in f737d999fcb8f276d77b01ea4c2016ee01dad19b, edb39c7666bb3924da761dfb417db85c1e5d8ad3, afa224cabc0132ca414b9141b1a919ca2d318cd0 +8
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
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been applied in Linux kernel versions 6.12, 6.6.158, 6.1.189, 5.16, and others as listed. Users and administrators should upgrade to these fixed kernel versions to remediate the issue. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the official patches.
Description
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability was identified and fixed in the Linux kernel's macb network driver. The issue occurs when the device tree describes a fixed-link without an "mdio" child node, causing macb_mii_init() to return early without allocating the MDIO bus, leaving a NULL pointer. Subsequent cleanup code in macb_remove() and the probe error path dereferences this NULL pointer unconditionally, leading to a kernel oops (crash).
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/afa224cabc0132ca414b9141b1a919ca2d318cd0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/054ad8e66025eb4778d840bef80c270646cebcd2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f737d999fcb8f276d77b01ea4c2016ee01dad19b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5710f6a74f63cbba0e15cd75917234916181c9d4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/edb39c7666bb3924da761dfb417db85c1e5d8ad3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/38b6be101006d3e7af972999f45d4f1e8250587a (opens in a new tab)