---
id: "CVE-2026-98798"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-98798"]
title: "Linux kernel: bcmgenet ethtool coalesce setting on closed interface crashes kernel"
severity: "unknown"
cvss: null
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "runtime"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["arm64", "bcmgenet", "linux-kernel", "raspberry-pi", "runtime"]
not_affected_if: ["no-bcmgenet-hardware"]
published_at: "2026-10-18T16:17:33+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:16+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T05:15:06+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98798", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:16+00:00"}]
---

# Linux kernel: bcmgenet ethtool coalesce setting on closed interface crashes kernel

Setting Rx coalescing parameters with ethtool on a bcmgenet Ethernet interface that was never opened dereferences a NULL ring pointer, causing a kernel oops. The oops happens with RTNL held, so networking stays stuck until reboot.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:16+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98798

## From the sources

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

net: bcmgenet: fix NULL dereference in set_coalesce before first open

The Rx ring priv and index are only set in bcmgenet_init_rx_ring(),
which runs at open. Setting the Rx coalescing parameters on an interface
that was never opened, e.g. "ethtool -C eth0 rx-usecs 50", dereferences
a NULL ring->priv. The oops happens with RTNL held, so networking
stays stuck until a reboot:

  Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address 0000000000002788
  pc : bcmgenet_set_rx_coalesce.isra.0+0x10/0x88
  lr : bcmgenet_set_coalesce+0xe8/0x180
  Call trace:
   bcmgenet_set_rx_coalesce.isra.0+0x10/0x88 (P)
   __ethnl_set_coalesce.isra.0+0x490/0x570
   ethnl_set_coalesce+0x48/0xc0
   ethnl_default_set_doit+0xf4/0x230
   genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0xe8/0x160
   genl_rcv_msg+0x220/0x2a0
   netlink_rcv_skb+0x68/0x140
   genl_rcv+0x40/0x60
   netlink_unicast+0x338/0x3c0
   netlink_sendmsg+0x19c/0x3f8
   __sock_sendmsg+0x64/0xc0
   __sys_sendto+0x124/0x198
   __arm64_sys_sendto+0x30/0x48

Set priv and index at probe. Writing the registers while the interface
is down is harmless because open resets the MAC and
bcmgenet_init_rx_coalesce() reapplies the stored values.

It was observed on a Raspberry Pi CM4, but should apply to all other
genet devices.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_