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NVD / CVE Program· CNA Linux

CVE-2026-23368: net: phy: register phy led_triggers during probe to avoid AB-BA deadlock

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Monitor (action score 22/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.10% (FIRST EPSS).
  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
  • Fixed version: Linux Linux 241cd64cf2e32b28ead151b1795cd8fef2b6e482, 2764dcb3c35de4410f642afc62cf979727470575, 2b01518eabace18f7ec8b4cafd52082303080dca; azl3 kernel 6.6.126.1-1 on Azure Linux 3.0 6.6.130.1-1; cbl2 kernel 5.15.202.1-1 on CBL-Mariner 2.0 Release Notes.

Low priority for now. Upgrade to Linux Linux 241cd64cf2e32b28ead151b1795cd8fef2b6e482, 2764dcb3c35de4410f642afc62cf979727470575, 2b01518eabace18f7ec8b4cafd52082303080dca; azl3 kernel 6.6.126.1-1 on Azure Linux 3.0 6.6.130.1-1; cbl2 kernel 5.15.202.1-1 on CBL-Mariner 2.0 Release Notes or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: phy: register phy led_triggers during probe to avoid AB-BA deadlock There is an AB-BA deadlock when both LEDS_TRIGGER_NETDEV and LED_TRIGGER_PHY are enabled: [ 1362.049207] [<8054e4b8>] led_trigger_register+0x5c/0x1fc <-- Trying to get lock "triggers_list_lock" via down_write(&triggers_list_lock); [ 1362.054536] [<80662830>] phy_led_triggers_register+0xd0/0x234 [ 1362.060329] [<8065e200>] phy_attach_direct+0x33c/0x40c [ 1362.065489] [<80651fc4>] phylink_fwnode_phy_connect+0x15c/0x23c [ 1362.071480] [<8066ee18>] mtk_open+0x7c/0xba0 [ 1362.075849] [<806d714c>] __dev_open+0x280/0x2b0 [ 1362.080384] [<806d7668>] __dev_change_flags+0x244/0x24c [ 1362.085598] [<806d7698>] dev_change_flags+0x28/0x78 [ 1362.090528] [<807150e4>] dev_ioctl+0x4c0/0x654 <-- Hold lock "rtnl_mutex" by calling rtnl_lock(); [ 1362.094985] [<80694360>] sock_ioctl+0x2f4/0x4e0 [ 1362.099567] [<802e9c4c>] sys_ioctl+0x32c/0xd8c [ 1362.104022] [<80014504>] syscall_common+0x34/0x58 Here LED_TRIGGER_PHY is registering LED triggers during phy_attach while holding RTNL and then taking triggers_list_lock. [ 1362.191101] [<806c2640>] register_netdevice_notifier+0x60/0x168 <-- Trying to get lock "rtnl_mutex" via rtnl_lock(); [ 1362.197073] [<805504ac>] netdev_trig_activate+0x194/0x1e4 [ 1362.202490] [<8054e28c>] led_trigger_set+0x1d4/0x360 <-- Hold lock "triggers_list_lock" by down_read(&triggers_list_lock); [ 1362.207511] [<8054eb38>] led_trigger_write+0xd8/0x14c [ 1362.212566] [<80381d98>] sysfs_kf_bin_write+0x80/0xbc [ 1362.217688] [<8037fcd8>] kernfs_fop_write_iter+0x17c/0x28c [ 1362.223174] [<802cbd70>] vfs_write+0x21c/0x3c4 [ 1362.227712] [<802cc0c4>] ksys_write+0x78/0x12c [ 1362.232164] [<80014504>] syscall_common+0x34/0x58 Here LEDS_TRIGGER_NETDEV is being enabled on an LED. It first takes triggers_list_lock and then RTNL. A classical AB-BA deadlock. phy_led_triggers_registers() does not require the RTNL, it does not make any calls into the network stack which require protection. There is also no requirement the PHY has been attached to a MAC, the triggers only make use of phydev state. This allows the call to phy_led_triggers_registers() to be placed elsewhere. PHY probe() and release() don't hold RTNL, so solving the AB-BA deadlock.

MediumCVSS 5.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Mar 25, 2026
Updated
Nov 5, 2026
EPSS
0.1% · 0th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

22

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
22 / 40 · 5.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
0 / 30 · 0.1%

CISA SSVC decision

Exploitation
none
Automatable
no
Technical impact
partial

Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.

Get told when this record changes

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  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
linuxlinux kernel

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • linux linux kernel4.16.1 and later · before 5.10.253
  • linux linux kernel5.11 and later · before 5.15.203
  • linux linux kernel5.16 and later · before 6.1.167
  • linux linux kernel6.2 and later · before 6.6.130
  • linux linux kernel6.7 and later · before 6.12.78
  • linux linux kernel6.13 and later · before 6.18.17
  • linux linux kernel6.19 and later · before 6.19.7
  • linux linux kernel4.16
  • linux linux kernel7.0

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (Linux). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • Linux Linux

    • 4.16affected
    • 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 and later · before 2b01518eabace18f7ec8b4cafd52082303080dcaaffected · git
    • 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 and later · before 305afdd02ff3e694c165457793104710ec0728e5affected · git
    • 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 and later · before c6ffc2d2338d325e1edd0c702e3ee623aa5fdc6aaffected · git
    • 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 and later · before c33523b8fd2d4c504ada18cd93f511f2a8f84217affected · git
    • 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 and later · before 241cd64cf2e32b28ead151b1795cd8fef2b6e482affected · git
    • 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 and later · before 2764dcb3c35de4410f642afc62cf979727470575affected · git
    • 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 and later · before cde2d0b5ab5d03b5b6f17d4f654d8b30ccf36757affected · git
    • 06f502f57d0d7728f9fa0f157ec5e4111ddb98f6 and later · before c8dbdc6e380e7e96a51706db3e4b7870d8a9402daffected · git
    • before 4.16not affected · semver

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12linuxbefore 6.1.170-16.1.170-1
Debian:13linuxbefore 6.12.85-16.12.85-1
Debian:14linuxbefore 6.19.8-16.19.8-1

Same product

linux: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2026-31431crypto: algif_aead - Revert to operating out-of-placeKEV
    90Now
  • CVE-2022-0847A flaw was found in the way the "flags" member of the new pipe buffer structure was lacking proper initialization in copy_page_to_iter_pipe KEV
    89Now
  • CVE-2021-22555Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACEKEV
    85Now

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2026-23366Mar 25, 2026 · drm/client: Do not destroy NULL modes
    22Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2026-23367Mar 25, 2026 · wifi: radiotap: reject radiotap with unknown bits
    22Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2026-23369Mar 25, 2026 · i2c: i801: Revert "i2c: i801: replace acpi_lock with I2C bus lock"
    22Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
Linux Linux241cd64cf2e32b28ead151b1795cd8fef2b6e482Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux2764dcb3c35de4410f642afc62cf979727470575Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux2b01518eabace18f7ec8b4cafd52082303080dcaVendor (CNA)
Linux Linux305afdd02ff3e694c165457793104710ec0728e5Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxc33523b8fd2d4c504ada18cd93f511f2a8f84217Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxc6ffc2d2338d325e1edd0c702e3ee623aa5fdc6aVendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxc8dbdc6e380e7e96a51706db3e4b7870d8a9402dVendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxcde2d0b5ab5d03b5b6f17d4f654d8b30ccf36757Vendor (CNA)
azl3 kernel 6.6.126.1-1 on Azure Linux 3.06.6.130.1-1 · CBL-Mariner ReleasesMicrosoft (MSRC)
cbl2 kernel 5.15.202.1-1 on CBL-Mariner 2.0Release NotesMicrosoft (MSRC)
debian:linux6.1.170-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

No dated events beyond publication.

No history yet (it accumulates with the daily EPSS job).

Patch and commit links

Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.

No commit or PR link among the references.

Credits

All researchers

Finders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.

No credits in the CNA record.

Variant candidates

Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.

No nightly-computed relations.

Chain candidates

An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.

—

Bug bounty scope

No known public program.

Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).

Technical details

Attack conditions

  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
  • A low-privileged account is enough.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality
none
Integrity
none
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
None
Integrity impact
None
Availability impact
High

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-667 · Improper Locking

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

nvd-primary

Attack context

MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.

Change log

  1. SSVC exploitation— → none
  2. Fix✗ → ✓

For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →

References

Show all references (11 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records