Unregistering netdev use in Linux kernel RDMA speed query
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 7 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel RDMA core function ib_get_eth_speed uses a network device after it has begun unregistering, so an asynchronous RDMA port query can call its ethtool callback after the device has been torn down. A local user with low privileges can trigger this, and the CVSS vector rates the impact to confidentiality, integrity and availability as high.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: RDMA/core: Reject unregistering netdevs in ib_get_eth_speed ib_device_get_netdev() intentionally returns a referenced net_device even when it is unregistering, so matching and cleanup callers can still find the association. The reference keeps struct net_device allocated, but does not guarantee that the device remains operational. ib_get_eth_speed() uses the returned device operationally by invoking its ethtool callback. Although that call is made under RTNL, the function does not verify the registration state first. An asynchronous RDMA port query can therefore call into a netdev after NETDEV_UNREGISTER and ndo_uninit have completed. Check for NETREG_REGISTERED while holding RTNL and return -ENODEV for a device which is being unregistered. Keeping RTNL across the check and the ethtool operation prevents unregister from starting between them. Keep the speed fallback and warning under RTNL as well, so the warning can safely read netdev->name. Drop the netdev reference before releasing RTNL once all accesses to the device are complete.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Linux kernel versions 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8 and 7.3 contain the fix, as do the upstream commits listed for the affected Linux kernel ranges. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5 are affected with no fix available, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 has no fix planned.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Timeline
- 2026-10-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98359
- 2026-10-06 Alias added: GHSA-fhcv-jhv5-h3gg
- 2026-10-07 CVSS score added · CNA
- 2026-10-07 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-07 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/be4b44c8b47c67a04c08b1a0aba18006b749ae6a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/45c60ffc79771bad154f224a05753191cf1b37bc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/520cd057f138ed8dbe8e05f0eae3a8ed4c5d3a5e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a219459fbd1b2598e63c81a52847eba6c28b72d2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5bd42f74ec3b4f4687fb600f367af0828d513b3c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ef9fbe1b93f3b617b96e86d5cd76b3fa44514cb5
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98359 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98359 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-fhcv-jhv5-h3gg · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98359 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences