CVE-2026-64125·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: bcmgenet: keep RBUF EEE/PM disabled Setting RBUF_EEE_EN | RBUF_PM_EN in RBUF_ENERGY_CTRL breaks the RX path on GENET hardware once MAC EEE becomes active. RX traffic stops flowing while the link stays up and the usual descriptor/RX error counters remain quiet. In that state the MAC still accepts frames (rbuf_ovflow_cnt keeps climbing) but RBUF no longer forwards them to DMA, so rx_packets is no longer incremented at the netdev level. On some boards the corruption ends up as a paging fault in skb_release_data via bcmgenet_rx_poll on an LPI exit. Reproduced on Pi 4B (BCM2711 + BCM54213PE) and confirmed by Florian Fainelli on an internal Broadcom 4908-family board with the same crash signature. RBUF_PM_EN is not publicly documented. This shows up more often now that phy_support_eee() enables EEE by default, but it also affects older kernels as soon as TX LPI is turned on via ethtool, so it is not specific to recent changes. Always clear RBUF_EEE_EN | RBUF_PM_EN in bcmgenet_eee_enable_set so the bits stay off across resets. UMAC and TBUF setup is left alone so TX-side EEE keeps working.
- Severity
- critical
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 7.0.11
- Published
How likely is exploitation
FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.55% — higher than 45% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.
Read the two together. CVE-2026-64125 scores 9.8 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at 0.55%, almost nobody is currently attempting it. That is a different situation from a flaw under mass exploitation, and it is usually the difference between patching on your next maintenance window and patching tonight.
Affected versions
From: 6.19
Until: 7.0.11
Fixed in: 7.0.11
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 7.0.11 or later to resolve a critical RX path failure on Broadcom GENET hardware when MAC EEE is enabled. This vulnerability causes network traffic to stop flowing despite an active link, with frames being discarded at the RBUF level. Apply the update immediately on systems using affected kernel versions 6.19 through 7.0.10.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Step 1: Check your kernel version by running: uname -r
- Step 2: Verify if your hardware uses Broadcom GENET (common on Raspberry Pi 4B and Broadcom 4908-family boards) by checking: lspci | grep -i broadcom or ethtool -i eth0 | grep -i driver
- Step 3: Check if EEE is currently enabled on your network interface: ethtool --show-eee eth0 (look for 'EEE is enabled' output)
- Step 4: After patching, confirm the new kernel version with uname -r and verify RBUF_EEE_EN is cleared by checking: grep -i rbuf /proc/device-tree/*/compatible 2>/dev/null
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-64125?
This is a critical kernel vulnerability affecting Broadcom GENET network hardware where enabling MAC Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) causes the receive buffer (RBUF) to stop forwarding frames to DMA, resulting in complete RX traffic loss despite the link remaining active.
Is CVE-2026-64125 being actively exploited?
No, CVE-2026-64125 is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and no public exploits are available. However, it is a critical stability issue that should be patched promptly.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2026-64125?
Kernel versions 6.19 through 7.0.10 are vulnerable. Version 7.0.11 and later include the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2026-64125?
Run: uname -r — if the output shows 6.19 through 7.0.10 AND your system uses Broadcom GENET hardware (check with ethtool -i eth0), your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2026-64125?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed kernel package versions against the NVD database. If a vulnerable kernel version is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2026-64125 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2040eb83f6ada148fb32dd98b943a498005d79f2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/289499907399c5a9f2ed82cb34df49112bb8488f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3d4ef05266ab16d8ef7dd21658a557801eb78704
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/49bdf6bbb21b9c6e3f4d0c1910bf0ef98424be95
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9a1730245e416d11ad5c0f2c100061d61cc43f60
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