Volerion logoVolerion
Volerion logoVolerion

Linux Kernel NULL Pointer Dereference Vulnerability in Ethtool Netlink Handling

Vulnerability

A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's handling of ethtool netlink commands can lead to a NULL pointer dereference, causing a crash. This issue arises when the ethnl_req_get_phydev() function is called without the necessary request attributes, particularly in the notification path following a PHY device operation. The vulnerability affects the PLCA command, as other PHY device-specific commands do not encounter this issue.

Impact

Exploitation of this vulnerability leads to a kernel crash due to a NULL pointer dereference.

Added: Jun 9, 2025, 7:46 PM
Updated: Jun 9, 2025, 7:46 PM

Vulnerability Rating

Custom Algorithm
spread
9.0
impact
2.5
exploitability
5.3
remediation
0.0
relevance
0.0
threat
3.2
urgency
2.9
incentive
1.7

Our algorithm analyzes dozens of metrics to generate these 8 key vulnerability categories, which are then combined to calculate the overall risk score.