CVE-2026-63997 ethtool: module: avoid leaking a netdev ref on module flash errors

What is CVE-2026-63997?

CVE-2026-63997 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 19 Jul 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ethtool: module: avoid leaking a netdev ref on module flash errors

module_flash_fw_schedule() is missing undo for setting the "in_progress" flag and taking the netdev reference. Delay taking these, the device can't disappear while we are holding rtnl_lock.

Weakness: CWE-401

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-63997?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2026-63997?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Is CVE-2026-63997 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-63997 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

• CVE-2026-53266 Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2013-6282 Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2022-0185 Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2013-2094 Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2026-53362 Linux Kernel Unspecified Exploited High 7.8

All Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-63997, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-63997, GHSA-hhv3-q8wp-5p98, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-63997.