In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net: bcmgenet: fix NULL dereference in set_coalesce before first open

The Rx ring priv and index are only set in bcmgenet_init_rx_ring(),
which runs at open. Setting the Rx coalescing parameters on an interface
that was never opened, e.g. "ethtool -C eth0 rx-usecs 50", dereferences
a NULL ring->priv. The oops happens with RTNL held, so networking
stays stuck until a reboot:

Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address 0000000000002788
pc : bcmgenet_set_rx_coalesce.isra.0+0x10/0x88
lr : bcmgenet_set_coalesce+0xe8/0x180
Call trace:
bcmgenet_set_rx_coalesce.isra.0+0x10/0x88 (P)
__ethnl_set_coalesce.isra.0+0x490/0x570
ethnl_set_coalesce+0x48/0xc0
ethnl_default_set_doit+0xf4/0x230
genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0xe8/0x160
genl_rcv_msg+0x220/0x2a0
netlink_rcv_skb+0x68/0x140
genl_rcv+0x40/0x60
netlink_unicast+0x338/0x3c0
netlink_sendmsg+0x19c/0x3f8
__sock_sendmsg+0x64/0xc0
__sys_sendto+0x124/0x198
__arm64_sys_sendto+0x30/0x48

Set priv and index at probe. Writing the registers while the interface
is down is harmless because open resets the MAC and
bcmgenet_init_rx_coalesce() reapplies the stored values.

It was observed on a Raspberry Pi CM4, but should apply to all other
genet devices.
Advisories

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Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Sun, 18 Oct 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: bcmgenet: fix NULL dereference in set_coalesce before first open The Rx ring priv and index are only set in bcmgenet_init_rx_ring(), which runs at open. Setting the Rx coalescing parameters on an interface that was never opened, e.g. "ethtool -C eth0 rx-usecs 50", dereferences a NULL ring->priv. The oops happens with RTNL held, so networking stays stuck until a reboot: Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address 0000000000002788 pc : bcmgenet_set_rx_coalesce.isra.0+0x10/0x88 lr : bcmgenet_set_coalesce+0xe8/0x180 Call trace: bcmgenet_set_rx_coalesce.isra.0+0x10/0x88 (P) __ethnl_set_coalesce.isra.0+0x490/0x570 ethnl_set_coalesce+0x48/0xc0 ethnl_default_set_doit+0xf4/0x230 genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0xe8/0x160 genl_rcv_msg+0x220/0x2a0 netlink_rcv_skb+0x68/0x140 genl_rcv+0x40/0x60 netlink_unicast+0x338/0x3c0 netlink_sendmsg+0x19c/0x3f8 __sock_sendmsg+0x64/0xc0 __sys_sendto+0x124/0x198 __arm64_sys_sendto+0x30/0x48 Set priv and index at probe. Writing the registers while the interface is down is harmless because open resets the MAC and bcmgenet_init_rx_coalesce() reapplies the stored values. It was observed on a Raspberry Pi CM4, but should apply to all other genet devices.
Title net: bcmgenet: fix NULL dereference in set_coalesce before first open
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-18T15:48:43.367Z

Reserved: 2026-09-25T10:25:14.370Z

Link: CVE-2026-98798

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-10-18T16:17:33.807

Modified: 2026-10-18T16:17:33.807

Link: CVE-2026-98798

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses

No weakness.