Linux Kernel up to 6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc2 macb macb_remove null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.4$0-$5k0.00+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc2. Affected is the function macb_remove of the component macb. The manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-98008. The attack must be initiated from a local position. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc2. It has been classified as critical. Affected is the function macb_remove of the component macb. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: macb: fix NULL pointer dereference on unbind with fixed-link When the device tree describes a fixed-link and has no "mdio" child node, macb_mii_init() returns early without allocating the MDIO bus, leaving bp->mii_bus as NULL. Two cleanup paths then dereference this NULL bus: 1. On driver unbind, macb_remove() unconditionally calls mdiobus_unregister(bp->mii_bus), which oopses: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 00000000000004a8 pc : mdiobus_unregister+0x14/0xa4 lr : macb_remove+0x38/0xa4 Call trace: mdiobus_unregister+0x14/0xa4 (P) macb_remove+0x38/0xa4 platform_remove+0x20/0x30 device_release_driver_internal+0x1c8/0x224 unbind_store+0xb4/0xbc 2. On the probe error path in macb_probe(), reached when macb_mii_init() has succeeded but a subsequent step fails, the err_out_unregister_mdio label runs the same unconditional cleanup. mdiobus_unregister() and mdiobus_free() do not guard against a NULL bus, so guard the calls in both macb_remove() and the probe error path.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-98008 since 09/25/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. Additional levels of successful authentication are needed for exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7 or 7.3-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch f737d999fcb8f276d77b01ea4c2016ee01dad19b/5710f6a74f63cbba0e15cd75917234916181c9d4/edb39c7666bb3924da761dfb417db85c1e5d8ad3/38b6be101006d3e7af972999f45d4f1e8250587a is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.7
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.4

VulDB Base Score: 7.7
VulDB Temp Score: 7.4
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.12.111/6.18.53/7.2.7/7.3-rc3
Patch: f737d999fcb8f276d77b01ea4c2016ee01dad19b/5710f6a74f63cbba0e15cd75917234916181c9d4/edb39c7666bb3924da761dfb417db85c1e5d8ad3/38b6be101006d3e7af972999f45d4f1e8250587a

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 Advisory disclosed
09/25/2026 +0 days CVE reserved
09/25/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/25/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98008 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98008
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-410244

Entryinfo

Created: 09/25/2026 16:02
Changes: 09/25/2026 16:02 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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