net: macb: destroy the phylink instance on the probe error path (CVE-2026-97973) | HOL Guard CVE

Unknown severity · Source severity not reportedCVE-2026-97973

net: macb: destroy the phylink instance on the probe error path

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-97973 records a Unknown severity vulnerability in net: macb: destroy the phylink instance on the probe error path. 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 25, 2026Updated Sep 25, 2026Source checked Sep 25, 2026First seen by HOL Sep 25, 2026Material review Sep 25, 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	>=7897b071ac3b45a5788d084fc7f8a8ee9e5f07f0 <23b6a44ffea1c54a4232aa86ee470b21422a8cc5 \|\| >=7897b071ac3b45a5788d084fc7f8a8ee9e5f07f0 <e92a45b872b035c79acde8dd0da096a72b61ff2f \|\| >=7897b071ac3b45a5788d084fc7f8a8ee9e5f07f0 <8558e3195664113c14a4d8fcf221b3caff41fed1 \|\| >=7897b071ac3b45a5788d084fc7f8a8ee9e5f07f0 <7d059f390750152b9bd69df934198651b94fc26d	23b6a44ffea1c54a4232aa86ee470b21422a8cc5, e92a45b872b035c79acde8dd0da096a72b61ff2f, 8558e3195664113c14a4d8fcf221b3caff41fed1, 7d059f390750152b9bd69df934198651b94fc26d
Linux/Linuxgeneric	5.5	Not reported

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for Linux/Linux, Linux/Linux.
Review the reported fix. Update Linux/Linux to 23b6a44ffea1c54a4232aa86ee470b21422a8cc5 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Sep 25, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 25, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 25, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: macb: destroy the phylink instance on the probe error path macb_mii_init() creates a phylink instance on both of its success paths, but the probe unwind frees the netdev without destroying it, so a failing macb_alloc_tieoff() or register_netdev() leaks the instance. Destroy it at err_out_unregister_mdio, which is only reachable once macb_mii_init() has succeeded, so bp->phylink is valid there.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.