LowCVE-2026-98594

    Linux Kernel: security vulnerability (CVE-2026-98594)

    Published Last modified Sources: Debian LTS, BSI, Msrc Update Guide, CVE.org

    What is affected, what to do

    In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tg3: clean up PHYLIB resources on probe failure tg3_get_invariants() can register an MDIO bus and connect a PHY for USE_PHYLIB devices. If tg3_init_one() later fails, its common error path releases the mappings and netdev without undoing those PHYLIB resources.

    Update Linux Kernel to version 5.10.271, Linux Kernel to version 5.15.222, Linux Kernel to version 6.1.189.

    Affected
    • Linux Kernel lt 2.6.27..5.10.271
    • Linux Kernel lt 5.11..5.15.222
    • Linux Kernel lt 5.16..6.1.189
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.2..6.6.158
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.7..6.12.112
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.13..6.18.55
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.19..7.2.9
    Fixed in
    • Linux Kernel 5.10.271
    • Linux Kernel 5.15.222
    • Linux Kernel 6.1.189
    • Linux Kernel 6.6.158
    • Linux Kernel 6.12.112
    • Linux Kernel 6.18.55
    • Linux Kernel 7.2.9
    • Linux Kernel 7.3

    Not sure whether and how you are affected? Ask a question about this vulnerability

    Metrics

    2.3

    Priority

    XIEM Effective CVSS: highest available CVSS rating from NVD and vendor data.

    Source: Vendor (CNA), CVSS v3

    2.3

    CVSS v3

    Severity Low on the scale from 0 to 10.

    Source: Debian LTS, BSI, Msrc Update Guide, CVE.org

    0.2 %

    EPSS score

    Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.

    Source: FIRST EPSS, percentile 12.1

    Show all metrics
    Severity
    Low
    Priority (0–325)

    The priority score is a consolidated metric that condenses several individual signals into a single, action-guiding ranking: technical severity (CVSS), exploitation likelihood (EPSS), known-exploited status (KEV) and the context of the affected asset. The aim is to answer the only truly important question in vulnerability management: what first?

    Read in glossary
    42.67 Methodology
    Exploit maturity

    An exploit is code or a technique that specifically uses a concrete vulnerability to force unintended behaviour — such as executing code or escalating privileges. It is the tool that turns a theoretical flaw into a practical attack.

    Read in glossary
    no public PoC known
    XIEM Effective CVSS

    XIEM® is the tiered managed-security operating model from NEOSEC and a registered trademark of NEOSEC GmbH. It extends classic SIEM — the central collection, normalisation and correlation of security-relevant events — with endpoint forensics, network visibility and deception technology, and consolidates them into three building tiers: Sentry, Orchestrate and Command.

    Read in glossary
    2.3 Methodology
    CVSS v3

    CVSS is the globally established, open standard for assessing the technical severity of a vulnerability on a scale from 0 to 10. It describes how easily a flaw can be exploited and what damage it can cause — but not how likely its actual exploitation is. CVSS and the complementary EPSS deliberately answer different questions.

    Read in glossary
    2.3
    EPSS score

    The EPSS score is the absolute model output for an individual vulnerability: the estimated probability of real-world exploitation within the next 30 days, expressed as a value between 0 and 1 (i.e. 0 % to 100 %). A score of 0.42 means „the model estimates a 42 % chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days“.

    Read in glossary
    0.2 %
    Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.
    EPSS percentile

    The EPSS percentile is the relative position of a vulnerability within all EPSS-scored CVEs, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A percentile of 0.90 means „this CVE has a higher EPSS score than 90 % of all other scored CVEs“. Unlike the EPSS score, it is not a probability — but a positioning within a ranking.

    Read in glossary
    12.1
    Elevated — this CVE ranks above at least 10% of all CVEs scored today.
    KEV status

    The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.

    Read in glossary
    —
    Published

    Detection rules

    No NEOSEC detection rule is available for this vulnerability yet.

    Classification under NIS2 and CRA

    Rule-based classification from exploitation status and severity. It does not replace a case-by-case assessment.

    NIS2

    NIS2 is EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 to raise the level of cybersecurity across the Union. It substantially broadens obligations compared with the first NIS directive: more sectors, mandatory risk management, staged reporting duties and personal accountability of senior management.

    Read in glossary
    Handle the vulnerability in regular vulnerability handling under Art. 21(2)(e) NIS2.
    CRA

    The CRA is EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 setting horizontal cybersecurity requirements for „products with digital elements“ — from industrial controllers and software to connected consumer devices. For the first time manufacturers must ensure security across the entire product lifecycle, handle vulnerabilities and provide security updates.

    Read in glossary
    From 11.12.2027, Annex I Part II CRA requires manufacturers of affected products with digital elements to handle vulnerabilities without delay and provide security updates.
    ISO/IEC 27001

    ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally leading standard for an information security management system (ISMS). It describes a risk-based, process-oriented framework to systematically plan, implement, review and improve information security.

    Read in glossary
    Control A.8.8, management of technical vulnerabilities: assess relevance to your systems, plan remediation and keep evidence.

    Description

    In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tg3: clean up PHYLIB resources on probe failure tg3_get_invariants() can register an MDIO bus and connect a PHY for USE_PHYLIB devices. If tg3_init_one() later fails, its common error path releases the mappings and netdev without undoing those PHYLIB resources. Disconnect the PHY and unregister the MDIO bus before the remaining teardown. Guard PHY cleanup with USE_PHYLIB to match tg3_phy_init(), and call tg3_mdio_fini() unconditionally to match tg3_mdio_init(). The existing IS_CONNECTED and MDIOBUS_INITED flags make both helpers safe when initialization only completed partially. This issue was identified during our ongoing static-analysis research while reviewing kernel code.

    Source: Debian LTS Advisories, BSI WID Portal, BSI CSAF, Microsoft Security Update Guide, cvelistv5, NVD (NIST)

    Affected products

    The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.

    Affected products
    Affected versionsFixed in
    LinuxLinux
    • 2.6.27 – < 5.10.271
    • 5.16 – < 6.1.189
    • 6.13 – < 6.18.55
    • 6.2 – < 6.6.158
    • —
    • 6.7 – < 6.12.112
    • 5.11 – < 5.15.222
    • 6.19 – < 7.2.9
    • 5.10.271
    • 6.1.189
    • 6.18.55
    • 6.6.158
    • 7.3
    • 6.12.112
    • 5.15.222
    • 7.2.9

    Vendors and products

    Affected operating systems

    Affected operating systems
    Linuxdebianlinux-6.12bookworm

    References & sources

    Changes to this CVE

    Who changed this CVE and when: NVD (analysis, affected products, CVSS), the CVE publisher (CNA) and additional providers such as CISA (ADP).

    1. Record modifiedLinux

      1 individual change: Affected versions (publisher)

      Show the original change
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Affected versions (publisher)added
      —
      Affected value modified. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/98xxx/CVE-2026-98594.json">CVE-2026-98594</a>

      Source identifier: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    2. ReceivedLinux

      Description added or changed

      Show 10 original changes
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Descriptionadded
      —
      In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tg3: clean up PHYLIB resources on probe failure tg3_get_invariants() can register an MDIO bus and connect a PHY for USE_PHYLIB devices. If tg3_init_one() later fails, its common error path releases the mappings and netdev without undoing those PHYLIB resources. Disconnect the PHY and unregister the MDIO bus before the remaining teardown. Guard PHY cleanup with USE_PHYLIB to match tg3_phy_init(), and call tg3_mdio_fini() unconditionally to match tg3_mdio_init(). The existing IS_CONNECTED and MDIOBUS_INITED flags make both helpers safe when initialization only completed partially. This issue was identified during our ongoing static-analysis research while reviewing kernel code.
      Affected versions (publisher)added
      —
      New affected value received. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/98xxx/CVE-2026-98594.json">CVE-2026-98594</a>
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0844402326d4e48a28688f93ec6442e93bb442fa
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6515c41503eef849abd2c7364f34e4bb25110f90
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a449eedb3b1eb5b8b1f5ed116a1bfe85eaaf81df
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a92e1a412c53dc0d9ad639e7abf8b3fc70a5b6ad
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b6c0c757c65893ad7bb17e8bcf33cdd8257d7b3d
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ce86d6929d03e6b0abcb781dfa50f9f0816bff78
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d2abb0013b933d59ee441185df0eca9e8c0b33eb
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e766321288b507afb70d2bfef6ba443213329f79

      Source identifier: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    Embed badge

    Show the severity and KEV status of this vulnerability on your site – with a link back here. The image is updated hourly.

    Badge preview for CVE-2026-98594
    <a href="https://intel.neosec.eu/en/cve/CVE-2026-98594"><img src="https://intel.neosec.eu/badge/cve/CVE-2026-98594.svg?lang=en" alt="CVE-2026-98594 – NEOSEC Intel" height="20"></a>