CVE-2026-64120 (GCVE-0-2026-64120)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-07-19 15:40 – Updated: 2026-07-19 15:40
VLAI
EPSS
VEX
Title
net: ethtool: fix NULL pointer dereference in phy_reply_size
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: ethtool: fix NULL pointer dereference in phy_reply_size
In phy_prepare_data(), several strings such as 'name', 'drvname',
'upstream_sfp_name', and 'downstream_sfp_name' are allocated using
kstrdup(). However, these allocations were not checked for failure.
If kstrdup() fails for 'name', it returns NULL while the function
continues. This leads to a kernel NULL pointer dereference and panic
later in phy_reply_size() when it unconditionally calls strlen() on
the NULL pointer.
While other strings like 'upstream_sfp_name' might be checked before
access in certain code paths, failing to handle these allocations
consistently can lead to incomplete data reporting or hidden bugs.
Fix this by adding proper NULL checks for all kstrdup() calls in
phy_prepare_data() and implement a centralized error handling path
using goto labels to ensure all previously allocated resources are
freed on failure.
Severity
5.5 (Medium)
Assigner
References
Impacted products
2 products
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux |
Affected:
9dd2ad5e92b962d1349a7541d167e8e214e49f95 , < 61f53c1e58d68723bc1db10912a53f1991f08719
(git)
Affected: 9dd2ad5e92b962d1349a7541d167e8e214e49f95 , < 3dbe20a3809347bacda890822e7ca013bd85a18c (git) Affected: 9dd2ad5e92b962d1349a7541d167e8e214e49f95 , < 4908f1395fb1b832ceec11584af649874a2732ea (git) |
guessed | |
| Linux | Linux |
Affected:
6.16
Unaffected: 0 , < 6.16 (semver) Unaffected: 6.18.34 , ≤ 6.18.* (semver) Unaffected: 7.0.11 , ≤ 7.0.* (semver) Unaffected: 7.1 , ≤ * (original_commit_for_fix) |
guessed |
{
"containers": {
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"product": "Linux",
"programFiles": [
"net/ethtool/phy.c"
],
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"vendor": "Linux",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "61f53c1e58d68723bc1db10912a53f1991f08719",
"status": "affected",
"version": "9dd2ad5e92b962d1349a7541d167e8e214e49f95",
"versionType": "git"
},
{
"lessThan": "3dbe20a3809347bacda890822e7ca013bd85a18c",
"status": "affected",
"version": "9dd2ad5e92b962d1349a7541d167e8e214e49f95",
"versionType": "git"
},
{
"lessThan": "4908f1395fb1b832ceec11584af649874a2732ea",
"status": "affected",
"version": "9dd2ad5e92b962d1349a7541d167e8e214e49f95",
"versionType": "git"
}
]
},
{
"defaultStatus": "affected",
"product": "Linux",
"programFiles": [
"net/ethtool/phy.c"
],
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"vendor": "Linux",
"versions": [
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "6.16"
},
{
"lessThan": "6.16",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "0",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.18.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.18.34",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "7.0.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "7.0.11",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "7.1",
"versionType": "original_commit_for_fix"
}
]
}
],
"cpeApplicability": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"cpeMatch": [
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"versionEndExcluding": "6.18.34",
"versionStartIncluding": "6.16",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"versionEndExcluding": "7.0.11",
"versionStartIncluding": "6.16",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"versionEndExcluding": "7.1",
"versionStartIncluding": "6.16",
"vulnerable": true
}
],
"negate": false,
"operator": "OR"
}
]
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nnet: ethtool: fix NULL pointer dereference in phy_reply_size\n\nIn phy_prepare_data(), several strings such as \u0027name\u0027, \u0027drvname\u0027,\n\u0027upstream_sfp_name\u0027, and \u0027downstream_sfp_name\u0027 are allocated using\nkstrdup(). However, these allocations were not checked for failure.\n\nIf kstrdup() fails for \u0027name\u0027, it returns NULL while the function\ncontinues. This leads to a kernel NULL pointer dereference and panic\nlater in phy_reply_size() when it unconditionally calls strlen() on\nthe NULL pointer.\n\nWhile other strings like \u0027upstream_sfp_name\u0027 might be checked before\naccess in certain code paths, failing to handle these allocations\nconsistently can lead to incomplete data reporting or hidden bugs.\n\nFix this by adding proper NULL checks for all kstrdup() calls in\nphy_prepare_data() and implement a centralized error handling path\nusing goto labels to ensure all previously allocated resources are\nfreed on failure."
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-07-19T15:40:19.044Z",
"orgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"shortName": "Linux"
},
"references": [
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/61f53c1e58d68723bc1db10912a53f1991f08719"
},
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3dbe20a3809347bacda890822e7ca013bd85a18c"
},
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4908f1395fb1b832ceec11584af649874a2732ea"
}
],
"title": "net: ethtool: fix NULL pointer dereference in phy_reply_size",
"x_generator": {
"engine": "bippy-1.2.0"
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"assignerShortName": "Linux",
"cveId": "CVE-2026-64120",
"datePublished": "2026-07-19T15:40:19.044Z",
"dateReserved": "2026-07-19T07:54:57.036Z",
"dateUpdated": "2026-07-19T15:40:19.044Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.2",
"vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
"epss": {
"cve": "CVE-2026-64120",
"date": "2026-10-22",
"epss": "0.0016",
"percentile": "0.04809"
},
"nvd": {
"cve": {
"affected": [
{
"affectedData": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"product": "Linux",
"programFiles": [
"net/ethtool/phy.c"
],
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"vendor": "Linux",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "61f53c1e58d68723bc1db10912a53f1991f08719",
"status": "affected",
"version": "9dd2ad5e92b962d1349a7541d167e8e214e49f95",
"versionType": "git"
},
{
"lessThan": "3dbe20a3809347bacda890822e7ca013bd85a18c",
"status": "affected",
"version": "9dd2ad5e92b962d1349a7541d167e8e214e49f95",
"versionType": "git"
},
{
"lessThan": "4908f1395fb1b832ceec11584af649874a2732ea",
"status": "affected",
"version": "9dd2ad5e92b962d1349a7541d167e8e214e49f95",
"versionType": "git"
}
]
},
{
"defaultStatus": "affected",
"product": "Linux",
"programFiles": [
"net/ethtool/phy.c"
],
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"vendor": "Linux",
"versions": [
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "6.16"
},
{
"lessThan": "6.16",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "0",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.18.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.18.34",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "7.0.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "7.0.11",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "7.1",
"versionType": "original_commit_for_fix"
}
]
}
],
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
}
],
"configurations": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"cpeMatch": [
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "2437F48D-051C-4E78-83C2-F198D0F2AE92",
"versionEndExcluding": "6.18.34",
"versionStartIncluding": "6.16",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "0520D091-FC52-4A50-AF07-70AE7D08B750",
"versionEndExcluding": "7.0.11",
"versionStartIncluding": "6.19",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "B1EF7059-E670-45F4-B422-54C40FA86390",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "0D38F0BF-A728-4133-A358-D44A2F7EE6D6",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "EC732D08-5F7B-46D9-B154-E60C7F4F0A97",
"vulnerable": true
}
],
"negate": false,
"operator": "OR"
}
]
}
],
"cveTags": [],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nnet: ethtool: fix NULL pointer dereference in phy_reply_size\n\nIn phy_prepare_data(), several strings such as \u0027name\u0027, \u0027drvname\u0027,\n\u0027upstream_sfp_name\u0027, and \u0027downstream_sfp_name\u0027 are allocated using\nkstrdup(). However, these allocations were not checked for failure.\n\nIf kstrdup() fails for \u0027name\u0027, it returns NULL while the function\ncontinues. This leads to a kernel NULL pointer dereference and panic\nlater in phy_reply_size() when it unconditionally calls strlen() on\nthe NULL pointer.\n\nWhile other strings like \u0027upstream_sfp_name\u0027 might be checked before\naccess in certain code paths, failing to handle these allocations\nconsistently can lead to incomplete data reporting or hidden bugs.\n\nFix this by adding proper NULL checks for all kstrdup() calls in\nphy_prepare_data() and implement a centralized error handling path\nusing goto labels to ensure all previously allocated resources are\nfreed on failure."
}
],
"id": "CVE-2026-64120",
"lastModified": "2026-08-13T15:11:48.607",
"metrics": {
"cvssMetricV31": [
{
"cvssData": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 5.5,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"integrityImpact": "NONE",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
"impactScore": 3.6,
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"type": "Primary"
}
]
},
"published": "2026-07-19T16:17:53.563",
"references": [
{
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3dbe20a3809347bacda890822e7ca013bd85a18c"
},
{
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4908f1395fb1b832ceec11584af649874a2732ea"
},
{
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/61f53c1e58d68723bc1db10912a53f1991f08719"
}
],
"sourceIdentifier": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
"weaknesses": [
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-476"
}
],
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"type": "Primary"
}
]
}
},
"redhat_vex": {
"aggregate_severity": "Low",
"current_release_date": "2026-08-13T16:58:33+00:00",
"cve": "CVE-2026-64120",
"id": "CVE-2026-64120",
"initial_release_date": "2026-07-19T00:00:00+00:00",
"product_status:known_affected": "76",
"product_status:known_not_affected": "198",
"source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
"status": "final",
"title": "kernel: net: ethtool: fix NULL pointer dereference in phy_reply_size",
"url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-64120.json",
"version": "3"
}
}
}
Loading…
Loading…
Drag nodes to arrange them. Double-click a related vulnerability to open it, or a source to visit its link. The Physics button on the left tunes the layout and the simulation; the legend at the bottom left hides or shows nodes by kind and by sighting type.
Experimental. This forecast is provided for visualization only and may change without notice. Do not use it for operational decisions.
Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Vulnerability timeline
Sightings and recorded dates, grouped by day · UTC
Loading timeline…
Loading…
Loading…
The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the
vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base
model, served locally by ML-Gateway.
They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
Loading…
Related by attack behaviour
Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.