CVE-2026-98594 tg3: clean up PHYLIB resources on probe failure
A resource leak in the tg3 network driver can lead to denial of service if device initialization fails, requiring kernel patching.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-98594?
CVE-2026-98594 is a denial of service vulnerability in Linux, published on 18 Oct 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:
tg3: clean up PHYLIB resources on probe failure
tg3_get_invariants() can register an MDIO bus and connect a PHY for USE_PHYLIB devices. If tg3_init_one() later fails, its common error path releases the mappings and netdev without undoing those PHYLIB resources.
Disconnect the PHY and unregister the MDIO bus before the remaining teardown. Guard PHY cleanup with USE_PHYLIB to match tg3_phy_init(), and call tg3_mdio_fini() unconditionally to match tg3_mdio_init(). The existing IS_CONNECTED and MDIOBUS_INITED flags make both helpers safe when initialization only completed partially.
This issue was identified during our ongoing static-analysis research while reviewing kernel code.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98594?
How do I fix CVE-2026-98594?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, then put limits on request size, rate and nesting depth so one client cannot exhaust the service. More about Denial of service.
Is CVE-2026-98594 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98594 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-109211, BELL-CVE-2026-98594, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98594, GHSA-2vwq-f5h6-r9rw, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98594.