Linux Kernel up to 7.2.12 Actions Ethernet Driver owl_emac_probe netdev_ops null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as very critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.12. Affected by this issue is the function owl_emac_probe of the component Actions Ethernet Driver. Such manipulation of the argument netdev_ops leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-99198. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.12. Affected by this issue is the function owl_emac_probe of the component Actions Ethernet Driver. The manipulation of the argument netdev_ops 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: ethernet: actions: Move setting of netops to fix crash owl_emac_probe() calls owl_emac_phy_init(), 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 available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-99198 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/28/2026).

Upgrading to version 7.2.13 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch d2eca3a54f415081711cd102d0db733de5abf170 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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