CVE-2026-98798Public exploit

Networking hang via uninitialized receive-ring pointer

Published Oct 18, 2026 · Updated Oct 18, 2026

A NULL dereference in Linux bcmgenet allows local users to hang networking by changing receive coalescing before first interface open. bcmgenet_set_rx_coalesce dereferences ring->priv before bcmgenet_init_rx_ring initializes it, causing a kernel oops while RTNL remains held. CAP_NET_ADMIN and an affected GENET interface are required; networking remains stuck until reboot.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A NULL dereference in Linux bcmgenet allows local users to hang networking by changing receive coalescing before first interface open. bcmgenet_set_rx_coalesce dereferences ring->priv before bcmgenet_init_rx_ring initializes it, causing a kernel oops while RTNL remains held. CAP_NET_ADMIN and an affected GENET interface are required; networking remains stuck until reboot.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98798
Published
Oct 18, 2026
Updated
Oct 18, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 18, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.17
  2. Affected versionversion=9f4ca05827a27ec73bf63a42732f1978b8a779af <0d867b91598b6ed2f75998c34f4e2869631da31e
  3. Affected versionversion=9f4ca05827a27ec73bf63a42732f1978b8a779af <19419faf58dfe5bcc8a9e60e622976c5f8e3ddc1
  4. Affected versionversion=9f4ca05827a27ec73bf63a42732f1978b8a779af <2294b62eaec6fd3c76a261d287f66641eeafd5f0
  5. Affected versionversion=9f4ca05827a27ec73bf63a42732f1978b8a779af <d870102b5425390cab42eebbf3d19ec6a43c6734

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.17; version=9f4ca05827a27ec73bf63a42732f1978b8a779af <0d867b91598b6ed2f75998c34f4e2869631da31e; version=9f4ca05827a27ec73bf63a42732f1978b8a779af <19419faf58dfe5bcc8a9e60e622976c5f8e3ddc1; version=9f4ca05827a27ec73bf63a42732f1978b8a779af <2294b62eaec6fd3c76a261d287f66641eeafd5f0; version=9f4ca05827a27ec73bf63a42732f1978b8a779af <d870102b5425390cab42eebbf3d19ec6a43c6734

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

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No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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