# CVE-2026-99193: Linux kernel icssm-prueth NULL pointer dereference in netdev initialization

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-99193-in-the-linux-kernel-the-following-vulnerability-has-been-resolved  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-28. Updated: 2026-10-28  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-99193 · Severity: info · Published 2026-10-28

A driver for Texas Instruments Ethernet controllers crashes during initialization when a certain kernel configuration is enabled. The crash occurs because network operations are assigned after attempting to connect to a PHY device, causing a NULL pointer access. This prevents the network interface from loading, resulting in loss of network connectivity.

Technologies: [Linux kernel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/x-linux-kernel).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-99193 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-99193 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-99193?** Informational severity, published 28 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Linux kernel Versions with CONFIG_NET_SHAPER enabled, following commit ded86da4bbb7.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-99193?** Yes: fixed in Included in stable kernel trees via commits 955bb7cf680d8699ce94c73539af882840a9be43 and e7694aab7ad002480ed9d534bd8d6bc28b798d8a. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-99193 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-99193?** Check whether you run Linux kernel at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in Included in stable kernel trees via commits 955bb7cf680d8699ce94c73539af882840a9be43 and e7694aab7ad002480ed9d534bd8d6bc28b798d8a

## Technical details

A NULL pointer dereference occurs in icssm_prueth_netdev_init() when CONFIG_NET_SHAPER is enabled. The function calls of_phy_get_and_connect() before assigning ndev->netdev_ops, but the PHY attachment code path (phy_attach_direct() → phy_link_topo_add_phy()) now reads dev->netdev_ops via netdev_need_ops_lock(), triggering the crash. The fix reorders the assignment of netdev_ops to occur before PHY attachment.

## Affected products

- Linux kernel Versions with CONFIG_NET_SHAPER enabled, following commit ded86da4bbb7

## Timeline

- 2026-10-28: disclosed
- 2026-10-15: patched

## References

- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/955bb7cf680d8699ce94c73539af882840a9be43](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/955bb7cf680d8699ce94c73539af882840a9be43)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e7694aab7ad002480ed9d534bd8d6bc28b798d8a](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e7694aab7ad002480ed9d534bd8d6bc28b798d8a)

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