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CVE-2026-98798

Linux: net: bcmgenet: fix NULL dereference in set_coalesce before first open

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.17%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 5% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in213ff02ab26a4543ef02b4db393bbdd5fa5679a7Also 0d867b91598b6ed2f75998c34f4e2869631da31e, 2294b62eaec6fd3c76a261d287f66641eeafd5f0 and 1 moreCVE List
Published18 Oct 2026Updated 21 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 213ff02ab26a4543ef02b4db393bbdd5fa5679a7LinuxCVE List
  • 0d867b91598b6ed2f75998c34f4e2869631da31eLinuxCVE List
  • 2294b62eaec6fd3c76a261d287f66641eeafd5f0LinuxCVE List
  • 19419faf58dfe5bcc8a9e60e622976c5f8e3ddc1LinuxCVE List

A fixed version on one release line is not the upgrade target for every line. Check your exact version and any vendor backports.

Description

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

net: bcmgenet: fix NULL dereference in set_coalesce before first open

The Rx ring priv and index are only set in bcmgenet_init_rx_ring(), which runs at open. Setting the Rx coalescing parameters on an interface that was never opened, e.g. "ethtool -C eth0 rx-usecs 50", dereferences a NULL ring->priv. The oops happens with RTNL held, so networking stays stuck until a reboot:

Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address 0000000000002788 pc : bcmgenet_set_rx_coalesce.isra.0+0x10/0x88 lr : bcmgenet_set_coalesce+0xe8/0x180 Call trace: bcmgenet_set_rx_coalesce.isra.0+0x10/0x88 (P) __ethnl_set_coalesce.isra.0+0x490/0x570 ethnl_set_coalesce+0x48/0xc0 ethnl_default_set_doit+0xf4/0x230 genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0xe8/0x160 genl_rcv_msg+0x220/0x2a0 netlink_rcv_skb+0x68/0x140 genl_rcv+0x40/0x60 netlink_unicast+0x338/0x3c0 netlink_sendmsg+0x19c/0x3f8 __sock_sendmsg+0x64/0xc0 __sys_sendto+0x124/0x198 __arm64_sys_sendto+0x30/0x48

Set priv and index at probe. Writing the registers while the interface is down is harmless because open resets the MAC and bcmgenet_init_rx_coalesce() reapplies the stored values.

It was observed on a Raspberry Pi CM4, but should apply to all other genet devices.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 12

  • Linuxaffected: 9f4ca05827a27ec73bf63a42732f1978b8a779af before 213ff02ab26a4543ef02b4db393bbdd5fa5679a7CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 9f4ca05827a27ec73bf63a42732f1978b8a779af before 0d867b91598b6ed2f75998c34f4e2869631da31eCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 9f4ca05827a27ec73bf63a42732f1978b8a779af before 2294b62eaec6fd3c76a261d287f66641eeafd5f0CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 9f4ca05827a27ec73bf63a42732f1978b8a779af before d870102b5425390cab42eebbf3d19ec6a43c6734CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 9f4ca05827a27ec73bf63a42732f1978b8a779af before 19419faf58dfe5bcc8a9e60e622976c5f8e3ddc1CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 4.17CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 4.17CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.6.160 through 6.6.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.12.113 through 6.12.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.18.56 through 6.18.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.10 through 7.2.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List

References 5