CVE-2026-97973
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.
Affected versions
Linux kernel versions
5.5
and later are affected. Fixed in
6.1.189,
6.6.158,
6.12.111,
6.18.53,
7.2.7,
7.3-rc3
and their respective stable series.
References
6 totalFrequently asked questions
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What is CVE-2026-97973?
CVE-2026-97973 is a unscored severity Linux kernel vulnerability . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.5 onward and has been patched in 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.111 and others. CVE-2026-97973 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
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Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-97973?
Yes. CVE-2026-97973 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.111 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.5 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
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Is CVE-2026-97973 actively exploited?
No. CVE-2026-97973 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.