Improper resource shutdown or release in Linux kernel - CVE-2026-63998

Vulnerability identifier: #VU138650

CSH Severity: Low

CVSS v4: 6.8 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]

CVE-ID: CVE-2026-63998

CWE-ID: CWE-404

Exploitation vector: Local access

Exploit availability: No public exploit available

The vulnerability allows a local user to cause a denial of service.

The vulnerability exists due to improper resource shutdown in the ethtool module flash operation handler when handling a module firmware flash request that fails validation. A local user can trigger a validation failure to cause a denial of service.

Linux kernel
Ubuntu
linux-ibm (Ubuntu package)
linux-azure (Ubuntu package)
linux-aws (Ubuntu package)
linux-nvidia (Ubuntu package)
linux-nvidia-bos (Ubuntu package)

Install security update from vendor's repository.

Linux kernel - update to 7.0 rc3
linux-ibm (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-1008.8, 7.0.0-1010.10
linux-azure (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-1009.9, 7.0.0-1010.10
linux-aws (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-1009.9, 7.0.0-1015.15
linux-nvidia (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-1016.16, 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
linux-nvidia-bos (Ubuntu package) - update to 7.0.0-2016.16

• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/84371fb58423f997939aacdcbc02d128d76a54e5
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d9defbf8b62bde89e206d74c2a2b445b9ed66108
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e96ef1a40dda5b637b1911cd950b11e9848de939

• Improper resource shutdown or release in Linux kernel ethtool
• Ubuntu update for linux-ibm
• Ubuntu update for linux-azure
• Ubuntu update for linux-aws
• Ubuntu update for linux-nvidia-bos
• Ubuntu update for linux-nvidia