CVE-2026-22985: idpf: Fix RSS LUT NULL pointer crash on early ethtool operations

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2026-22985?

CVE-2026-22985 is classified as a medium severity vulnerability.

Q: How do I fix CVE-2026-22985?

To fix CVE-2026-22985, update your Linux kernel to the latest stable version where this vulnerability has been addressed.

Q: What impact does CVE-2026-22985 have on my system?

CVE-2026-22985 can lead to a NULL pointer dereference during early ethtool operations, potentially causing a system crash.

Q: Which software versions are affected by CVE-2026-22985?

CVE-2026-22985 affects specific versions of the Linux kernel, particularly those with idpf components that do not properly initialize the RSS LUT.

Q: Is CVE-2026-22985 actively exploited in the wild?

As of now, there are no confirmed reports of active exploitation of CVE-2026-22985 in the wild.

Published Jan 23, 2026

Updated

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

idpf: Fix RSS LUT NULL pointer crash on early ethtool operations

The RSS LUT is not initialized until the interface comes up, causing the following NULL pointer crash when ethtool operations like rxhash on/off are performed before the interface is brought up for the first time.

Move RSS LUT initialization from ndoopen to vport creation to ensure LUT is always available. This enables RSS configuration via ethtool before bringing the interface up. Simplify LUT management by maintaining all changes in the driver's soft copy and programming zeros to the indirection table when rxhash is disabled. Defer HW programming until the interface comes up if it is down during rxhash and LUT configuration changes.

Steps to reproduce: Load idpf driver; interfaces will be created modprobe idpf Before bringing the interfaces up, turn rxhash off ethtool -K eth2 rxhash off

[89408.371875] BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 [89408.371908] #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode [89408.371924] #PF: errorcode(0x0000) - not-present page [89408.371940] PGD 0 P4D 0 [89408.371953] Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI <snip> [89408.372052] RIP: 0010:memcpyorig+0x16/0x130 [89408.372310] Call Trace: [89408.372317] <TASK> [89408.372326] ? idpfsetfeatures+0xfc/0x180 [idpf] [89408.372363] netdevupdatefeatures+0x295/0xde0 [89408.372384] ethnlsetfeatures+0x15e/0x460 [89408.372406] genlfamilyrcvmsgdoit+0x11f/0x180 [89408.372429] genlrcvmsg+0x1ad/0x2b0 [89408.372446] ? pfxethnlsetfeatures+0x10/0x10 [89408.372465] ? pfxgenlrcvmsg+0x10/0x10 [89408.372482] netlinkrcvskb+0x58/0x100 [89408.372502] genlrcv+0x2c/0x50 [89408.372516] netlinkunicast+0x289/0x3e0 [89408.372533] netlinksendmsg+0x215/0x440 [89408.372551] syssendto+0x234/0x240 [89408.372571] x64syssendto+0x28/0x30 [89408.372585] x64syscall+0x1909/0x1da0 [89408.372604] dosyscall64+0x7a/0xfa0 [89408.373140] ? clearbhbloop+0x60/0xb0 [89408.373647] entrySYSCALL64afterhwframe+0x76/0x7e [89408.378887] </TASK> <snip>

Affected Software

164 affected componentsFixes available

The Linux Foundation Linux Kernel

debian/linux

6.1.176-16.1.190-16.12.107-16.12.115-27.2.12-17.2.15-1

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-oem*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi2*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8<6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1

6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8<6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1

6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8<6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1

6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8<6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1

6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1

6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8<6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1

6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1

6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8<6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1

6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8<6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1

6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8<6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3

6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8<6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2

6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-136.136

6.8.0-136.136

ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1061.64

6.8.0-1061.64

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1063.71

6.8.0-1063.71

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17<6.17.0-1021.21~24.04.1

6.17.0-1021.21~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<6.8.0-1062.69

6.8.0-1062.69

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1064.72

6.8.0-1064.72

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.17<6.17.0-1021.24~24.04.1

6.17.0-1021.24~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1059.67

6.8.0-1059.67

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1046.50

6.8.0-1046.50

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17<6.17.0-41.41~24.04.1

6.17.0-41.41~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1061.62

6.8.0-1061.62

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-136.136.2

6.8.0-136.136.2

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1059.62

6.8.0-1059.62

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17<6.17.0-1031.31

6.17.0-1031.31

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency<6.8.0-1059.62.1

6.8.0-1059.62.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<6.8.0-1030.31

6.8.0-1030.31

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17<6.17.0-1030.30

6.17.0-1030.30

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1058.61

6.8.0-1058.61

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17<6.17.0-1019.19~24.04.3

6.17.0-1019.19~24.04.3

ubuntu/linux-raspi<6.8.0-1061.65

6.8.0-1061.65

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx<6.8.0-1033.34

6.8.0-1033.34

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1028.33

6.8.0-1028.33

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime<6.8.0-2050.52

6.8.0-2050.52

ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1056.57

6.8.1-1056.57

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17<6.17.0-1018.20~24.04.1

6.17.0-1018.20~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1061.64+fips1

6.8.0-1061.64+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1063.71+fips2

6.8.0-1063.71+fips2

ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-136.136+fips2

6.8.0-136.136+fips2

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1064.72+fips1

6.8.0-1064.72+fips1

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.18.6

Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc1

Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc2

Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc3

Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc4

linux/kernel>=6.7.0<6.12.80

6.12.80

linux/kernel>=6.13.0<6.18.6

6.18.6

debian/linux<6.12.85-1

6.12.85-1

debian/linux<6.18.8-1

6.18.8-1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.1.176-1Fixed in 6.1.190-1Fixed in 6.12.107-1Fixed in 6.12.115-2Fixed in 7.2.12-1Fixed in 7.2.15-1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.64
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.17.0-1021.21~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.69
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.17 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.17.0-1021.24~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.67
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.50
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.17.0-41.41~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.62
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136.2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.17.0-1031.31
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1030.31
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.17.0-1030.30
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.17.0-1019.19~24.04.3
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.65
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1033.34
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1028.33
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-2050.52
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1056.57
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.17.0-1018.20~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.64+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71+fips2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136+fips2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.12.80
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.18.6
Upgrade
Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.12.85-1
Upgrade
Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.18.8-1
Compensating control
Update the idpf driver implementation so the RSS LUT is initialized during vport creation and remains available before the interface is brought up; defer hardware programming until the interface comes up when it is down during rxhash or LUT configuration changes, while maintaining changes in the driver's software copy and programming zeros to the indirection table when rxhash is disabled.

Event History

Jan 23, 2026

CVE Published

via MITRE·03:24 PM

Data Sourced

via MITRE·03:24 PM

Description

Data Sourced

via OSV·03:24 PM

DescriptionAffected Software

Data Sourced

via OSV·04:15 PM

Severity

Data Sourced

via NVD·04:15 PM

RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

DSA-6238

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of CVE-2026-22985?

CVE-2026-22985 is classified as a medium severity vulnerability.

How do I fix CVE-2026-22985?

To fix CVE-2026-22985, update your Linux kernel to the latest stable version where this vulnerability has been addressed.

What impact does CVE-2026-22985 have on my system?

CVE-2026-22985 can lead to a NULL pointer dereference during early ethtool operations, potentially causing a system crash.

Which software versions are affected by CVE-2026-22985?

CVE-2026-22985 affects specific versions of the Linux kernel, particularly those with idpf components that do not properly initialize the RSS LUT.

Is CVE-2026-22985 actively exploited in the wild?

As of now, there are no confirmed reports of active exploitation of CVE-2026-22985 in the wild.

CVE-2026-22985: idpf: Fix RSS LUT NULL pointer crash on early ethtool operations

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Parent advisories

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of CVE-2026-22985?

How do I fix CVE-2026-22985?

What impact does CVE-2026-22985 have on my system?

Which software versions are affected by CVE-2026-22985?

Is CVE-2026-22985 actively exploited in the wild?

Company

Resources

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