Linux Kernel up to 7.2.12 ethoc ethoc_probe null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.12 and classified as critical. The affected element is the function ethoc_probe of the component ethoc. Such manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2026-99195. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.12 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function ethoc_probe of the component ethoc. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ethoc: move setting of netops to fix crash ethoc_probe() calls ethoc_mdio_probe(), which connects the PHY, before netdev->netdev_ops is assigned. phy_attach_direct() -> phy_link_topo_add_phy() reads dev->netdev_ops through netdev_need_ops_lock() since the commit in question, so probing crashes with a NULL pointer dereference when CONFIG_NET_SHAPER is enabled. Assign netdev_ops before the PHY attach, as was done for emac in commit 7c9f391ec89c ("net: emac: move setting of netops to fix crash").

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-99195 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 10/28/2026).

Upgrading to version 7.2.13 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch c51b13299b4d45226efb09e532fb33e7109f78d7/c9f8ce62a5faa73515ff5457716bd7306d20fd93 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5
• 7.2.6
• 7.2.7
• 7.2.8
• 7.2.9
• 7.2.10
• 7.2.11
• 7.2.12

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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