---
id: "CVE-2026-99197"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-99197"]
title: "Linux kernel: mv643xx Ethernet driver crashes on probe with shaper enabled"
severity: "unknown"
cvss: null
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "runtime"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["arm", "embedded", "linux-kernel", "marvell-mv643xx", "runtime"]
not_affected_if: ["config-net-shaper-disabled", "no-mv643xx-hardware"]
published_at: "2026-10-28T11:17:40+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-28T11:32:37+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-28T11:34:06+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-99197", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-28T11:32:37+00:00"}]
---

# Linux kernel: mv643xx Ethernet driver crashes on probe with shaper enabled

The mv643xx Ethernet driver assigns its network operations table after attaching the PHY, so with CONFIG_NET_SHAPER enabled the kernel dereferences a NULL pointer during probe. The sources describe a crash (denial of service) and do not describe code execution or data exposure.

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

## How to check

- Check whether the running kernel has `CONFIG_NET_SHAPER=y` and whether the board uses the mv643xx_eth driver (`lsmod | grep mv643xx` or `grep -i mv643xx /proc/modules`)
- Compare the running kernel to the fixed commit: unknown

## Fix

- Update the Linux kernel to a release that includes the upstream commit that moves the netdev_ops assignment before the PHY attach (commit id not given in the sources, so unknown)
- Until patched, unknown workaround from the sources

## Timeline

- 2026-10-28T11:32:37+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-99197

## From the sources

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

net: mv643xx: move setting of netops to fix crash

mv643xx_eth_probe() connects the PHY before dev->netdev_ops is
assigned. phy_attach_direct() -> phy_link_topo_add_phy() reads
dev->netdev_ops through netdev_need_ops_lock() since the commit in
question, so probing crashes with a NULL pointer dereference when
CONFIG_NET_SHAPER is enabled.

Assign netdev_ops before the PHY attach, as was done for emac in commit
7c9f391ec89c ("net: emac: move setting of netops to fix crash").

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