CVE-2026-64228: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ethtool: phy: avoid NULL deref when PHY driver is unbound phydev->drv can become NULL while the phy_devic

unknownCVE-2026-64228

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ethtool: phy: avoid NULL deref when PHY driver is unbound phydev->drv can become NULL while the phy_device is still attached to its net_device, namely after the PHY driver is unbound via sysfs: echo <mdio_id> > /sys/bus/mdio_bus/drivers/<phy_drv>/unbind phy_remove() clears phydev->drv but doesn't call phy_detach(), so the phy_device stays in the link topology xarray and ethnl_req_get_phydev() still hands it back. ETHTOOL_MSG_PHY_GET then oopses on: rep_data->drvname = kstrdup(phydev->drv->name, GFP_KERNEL); drvname is already treated as optional by phy_reply_size(), phy_fill_reply() and phy_cleanup_data(), so just skip the allocation when there is no driver bound.

Details

Source: NVD Recent CVEs (US · database · site)
Severity: unknown
Published: 2026-07-24
Last updated: 2026-07-30
Exploitation: Not in CISA KEV at last sync

Original advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-64228

Exploitation outlook

EPSS (FIRST.org) estimates each CVE’s probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — here is the CSIRTS.com read on those numbers.

Low exploitation riskCVE-2026-642280.17% 30-day exploitation probability — currently an unlikely target, but scores change as exploit code circulates. Riskier than 6% of all scored CVEs.

Referenced CVEs

CVE	CSIRTS overview	External
CVE-2026-64228	coverage & exploitation status	NVD · CVE.org

Same CVEs, other sources

How other CERTs, PSIRTs and databases cover the vulnerabilities in this advisory.

medium[NEW] [medium] Linux Kernel: Multiple vulnerabilitiescert-bund
highUSN-8618-1: Linux kernel vulnerabilitiesubuntu

Recent advisories for In the Linux

A cluster of recent advisories against the same product widens the attack surface — attackers routinely chain freshly published CVEs on one product, so review these together.

highUSN-8620-4: Linux kernel (Intel IoTG) vulnerabilitiesubuntu · 2026-07-31
highCVE-2026-18358: A flaw was found in gnome-remote-desktop as shipped in Red Hat Enterprise Linux. When the daem…nvd · 2026-07-31
medium[UPDATE] [medium] Linux Kernel: Multiple vulnerabilities allow denial of servicecert-bund · 2026-07-31
medium[UPDATE] [medium] Linux Kernel: Multiple vulnerabilities allow Denial of Servicecert-bund · 2026-07-31
medium[UPDATE] [medium] Linux Kernel: Multiple vulnerabilitiescert-bund · 2026-07-31
medium[UPDATE] [medium] Linux Kernel: Multiple vulnerabilities allow denial of servicecert-bund · 2026-07-31