In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: ethtool: keep rtnl_lock for the ioctl self test
An offline self test that brings the interface down and back up with
netif_close() / netif_open() requires rtnl_lock for both. Since the
ethtool IOCTL path became rtnl-optional for ops-locked drivers, the
ETHTOOL_TEST ioctl runs holding only the netdev instance lock, so on an
ops-locked driver the self test now tears the device down without
rtnl_lock.
With lockdep this reproduces deterministically on every offline self
test on such a driver; note the sole lock held is the instance lock, not
rtnl:
WARNING: suspicious RCU usage
net/core/netpoll.c:207 suspicious rcu_dereference_protected() usage!
1 lock held by ethtool/107:
#0: (&dev->lock){+.+.}, at: dev_ethtool
Call Trace:
netpoll_poll_disable
__dev_close_many
netif_close_many
netif_close
fbnic_self_test
dev_ethtool_locked
dev_ethtool
dev_ioctl
sock_ioctl
__x64_sys_ioctl
Without lockdep the same condition trips ASSERT_RTNL() in
__dev_close_many() / __dev_open(); that check only samples the global
rtnl state, so it can be masked by a concurrent rtnl holder, but the
device is still being reconfigured without the lock it requires.
The ethtool self_test is a legacy ioctl-only command, so an ETHTOOL_TEST
case is only needed on the ioctl path. Add an opt-in bit for drivers whose
self test needs rtnl_lock and set it on the ops-locked drivers whose
offline self test tears the interface down and up:
- fbnic (ops-locked via queue_mgmt_ops): fbnic_self_test() offline path
uses netif_close() / netif_open().
- bnxt (ops-locked via queue_mgmt_ops): bnxt_self_test() offline path
goes through bnxt_close_nic() / bnxt_half_open_nic() /
bnxt_half_close_nic() / bnxt_open_nic(), which close and reopen the
device.
net: ethtool: keep rtnl_lock for the ioctl self test
An offline self test that brings the interface down and back up with
netif_close() / netif_open() requires rtnl_lock for both. Since the
ethtool IOCTL path became rtnl-optional for ops-locked drivers, the
ETHTOOL_TEST ioctl runs holding only the netdev instance lock, so on an
ops-locked driver the self test now tears the device down without
rtnl_lock.
With lockdep this reproduces deterministically on every offline self
test on such a driver; note the sole lock held is the instance lock, not
rtnl:
WARNING: suspicious RCU usage
net/core/netpoll.c:207 suspicious rcu_dereference_protected() usage!
1 lock held by ethtool/107:
#0: (&dev->lock){+.+.}, at: dev_ethtool
Call Trace:
netpoll_poll_disable
__dev_close_many
netif_close_many
netif_close
fbnic_self_test
dev_ethtool_locked
dev_ethtool
dev_ioctl
sock_ioctl
__x64_sys_ioctl
Without lockdep the same condition trips ASSERT_RTNL() in
__dev_close_many() / __dev_open(); that check only samples the global
rtnl state, so it can be masked by a concurrent rtnl holder, but the
device is still being reconfigured without the lock it requires.
The ethtool self_test is a legacy ioctl-only command, so an ETHTOOL_TEST
case is only needed on the ioctl path. Add an opt-in bit for drivers whose
self test needs rtnl_lock and set it on the ops-locked drivers whose
offline self test tears the interface down and up:
- fbnic (ops-locked via queue_mgmt_ops): fbnic_self_test() offline path
uses netif_close() / netif_open().
- bnxt (ops-locked via queue_mgmt_ops): bnxt_self_test() offline path
goes through bnxt_close_nic() / bnxt_half_open_nic() /
bnxt_half_close_nic() / bnxt_open_nic(), which close and reopen the
device.
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
Advisories
No advisories yet.
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Sun, 18 Oct 2026 15:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ethtool: keep rtnl_lock for the ioctl self test An offline self test that brings the interface down and back up with netif_close() / netif_open() requires rtnl_lock for both. Since the ethtool IOCTL path became rtnl-optional for ops-locked drivers, the ETHTOOL_TEST ioctl runs holding only the netdev instance lock, so on an ops-locked driver the self test now tears the device down without rtnl_lock. With lockdep this reproduces deterministically on every offline self test on such a driver; note the sole lock held is the instance lock, not rtnl: WARNING: suspicious RCU usage net/core/netpoll.c:207 suspicious rcu_dereference_protected() usage! 1 lock held by ethtool/107: #0: (&dev->lock){+.+.}, at: dev_ethtool Call Trace: netpoll_poll_disable __dev_close_many netif_close_many netif_close fbnic_self_test dev_ethtool_locked dev_ethtool dev_ioctl sock_ioctl __x64_sys_ioctl Without lockdep the same condition trips ASSERT_RTNL() in __dev_close_many() / __dev_open(); that check only samples the global rtnl state, so it can be masked by a concurrent rtnl holder, but the device is still being reconfigured without the lock it requires. The ethtool self_test is a legacy ioctl-only command, so an ETHTOOL_TEST case is only needed on the ioctl path. Add an opt-in bit for drivers whose self test needs rtnl_lock and set it on the ops-locked drivers whose offline self test tears the interface down and up: - fbnic (ops-locked via queue_mgmt_ops): fbnic_self_test() offline path uses netif_close() / netif_open(). - bnxt (ops-locked via queue_mgmt_ops): bnxt_self_test() offline path goes through bnxt_close_nic() / bnxt_half_open_nic() / bnxt_half_close_nic() / bnxt_open_nic(), which close and reopen the device. | |
| Title | net: ethtool: keep rtnl_lock for the ioctl self test | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
Projects
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MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-10-18T15:19:39.448Z
Reserved: 2026-09-25T10:25:14.360Z
Link: CVE-2026-98619
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-10-18T16:17:14.787
Modified: 2026-10-18T16:17:14.787
Link: CVE-2026-98619
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.