net: phylink: correctly validate returned PCS in phylink_inband_caps (CVE-2026-80993) | HOL Guard CVE

Unknown severity · Source severity not reportedCVE-2026-80993

net: phylink: correctly validate returned PCS in phylink_inband_caps

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-80993 records a Unknown severity vulnerability in net: phylink: correctly validate returned PCS in phylink_inband_caps. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps Linux/Linux (generic), Linux/Linux (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Sep 11, 2026Updated Sep 11, 2026Source checked Sep 11, 2026First seen by HOL Sep 11, 2026Material review Sep 11, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: Unknown severitySource severity not reported
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 2 mapped packages or products
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

A CVSS score is not reported in the current record. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps Linux/Linux (generic), Linux/Linux (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
Linux/Linuxgeneric	>=df874f9e52c340cc6f0a0014a97b778f67d46849 <b6b533f83461c3730875cf3ed5ff6362dcb67be9 \|\| >=df874f9e52c340cc6f0a0014a97b778f67d46849 <fb4d77553841ae85bed9b2cf03351c401e871d85 \|\| >=df874f9e52c340cc6f0a0014a97b778f67d46849 <f2849b1fd059ec9b3281b771e6ac5aad9feee851	b6b533f83461c3730875cf3ed5ff6362dcb67be9, fb4d77553841ae85bed9b2cf03351c401e871d85, f2849b1fd059ec9b3281b771e6ac5aad9feee851
Linux/Linuxgeneric	6.14	Not reported

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for Linux/Linux, Linux/Linux.
Review the reported fix. Update Linux/Linux to b6b533f83461c3730875cf3ed5ff6362dcb67be9 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Sep 11, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 11, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 11, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: phylink: correctly validate returned PCS in phylink_inband_caps In phylink_inband_caps(), the PCS returned by mac_select_pcs is only checked if NULL but mac_select_pcs can also return an error pointer. This can cause a kernel panic as phylink_pcs_inband_caps() only checks if passed PCS is not NULL and directly dereference ops from the phylink_pcs struct. Use the IS_ERR_OR_NULL macro to address both case where the returned PCS can be NULL or an error pointer and prevent a kernel panic.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.