net: ethtool: phy: avoid NULL deref when PHY driver is unbound
Subsystems (5)
PATCH 1/1 net: ethtool: phy: avoid NULL deref when PHY driver is unbound
phydev->drv can become NULL while the phy_device is still attached to its net_device, namely after the PHY driver is unbound via sysfs:
echo <mdio_id> > /sys/bus/mdio_bus/drivers/<phy_drv>/unbind
phy_remove() clears phydev->drv but doesn't call phy_detach(), so the phy_device stays in the link topology xarray and ethnl_req_get_phydev() still hands it back. ETHTOOL_MSG_PHY_GET then oopses on:
rep_data->drvname = kstrdup(phydev->drv->name, GFP_KERNEL);
drvname is already treated as optional by phy_reply_size(), phy_fill_reply() and phy_cleanup_data(), so just skip the allocation when there is no driver bound.
--- net/ethtool/phy.c | 10 ++++++---- 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)
net/ethtool/phy.c +6 -4
@@ -94,10 +94,12 @@ static int phy_prepare_data(const struct ethnl_req_info *req_info,if (!rep_data->name)return -ENOMEM ; - rep_data->drvname =kstrdup (phydev->drv->name,GFP_KERNEL ); -if (!rep_data->drvname) { - ret = -ENOMEM ; - goto err_free_name; +if (phydev->drv) { + rep_data->drvname =kstrdup (phydev->drv->name,GFP_KERNEL ); +if (!rep_data->drvname) { + ret = -ENOMEM ; + goto err_free_name; + } } rep_data->upstream_type = pdn->upstream_type;
Signature · 1 line
2.53.0
Hi,
Quoted 11 lines · David Carlier
phydev->drvcan become NULL while thephy_deviceis still attached to itsnet_device, namely after the PHY driver is unbound via sysfs:echo <
mdio_id> > /sys/bus/mdio_bus/drivers/<phy_drv>/unbind
phy_remove()clearsphydev->drvbut doesn't callphy_detach(), so thephy_devicestays in the link topology xarray andethnl_req_get_phydev()still hands it back.ETHTOOL_MSG_PHY_GETthen oopses on:rep_data->drvname = kstrdup(phydev->drv->name, GFP_KERNEL);
Quoted 7 lines
drvname is already treated as optional by
phy_reply_size(),phy_fill_reply()andphy_cleanup_data(), so just skip the allocation when there is no driver bound.Fixes 9dd2ad5e92b9 ("net: ethtool: phy: Convert the PHY_GET command to generic phy dump")Cc [email protected] # 6.13.xSigned-off-by David Carlier <[email protected]>
I was able to reproduce the bug, and your fix does solve it.
Thanks !
Maxime
Quoted 25 lines
--- net/ethtool/phy.c | 10 ++++++---- 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)net/ethtool/phy.c +6
-4@@ -94,10 +94,12 @@ static int phy_prepare_data(const struct ethnl_req_info *req_info,if (!rep_data->name)return -ENOMEM ; - rep_data->drvname =kstrdup (phydev->drv->name,GFP_KERNEL ); -if (!rep_data->drvname) { - ret = -ENOMEM ; - goto err_free_name; +if (phydev->drv) { + rep_data->drvname =kstrdup (phydev->drv->name,GFP_KERNEL ); +if (!rep_data->drvname) { + ret = -ENOMEM ; + goto err_free_name; + } } rep_data->upstream_type = pdn->upstream_type;
This patch was applied to netdev/net.git (main) by Jakub Kicinski <[email protected]>:
Hello:
This patch was applied to netdev/net.git (main)
by Jakub Kicinski <[email protected]>:
Quoted 10 lines · On Sat, 9 May 2026 22:50:46 +0100 you wrote:
phydev->drvcan become NULL while thephy_deviceis still attached to itsnet_device, namely after the PHY driver is unbound via sysfs:echo <
mdio_id> > /sys/bus/mdio_bus/drivers/<phy_drv>/unbind
phy_remove()clearsphydev->drvbut doesn't callphy_detach(), so thephy_devicestays in the link topology xarray andethnl_req_get_phydev()still hands it back.ETHTOOL_MSG_PHY_GETthen oopses on:[...]
Here is the summary with links:
- [net] net: ethtool: phy: avoid NULL deref when PHY driver is unbound
https://git.kernel.org/netdev/net/c/e3adf69f8eb1
You are awesome, thank you!
Signature · 2 lines
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