In the Linux kernel, a vulnerability has been resolved regarding device reference leaks that can occur in Slimbus devices. Specifically, this vulnerability allows for potentially high availability impact due to improper management of device references when handling report-present messages. Organizations utilizing affected versions of the Linux kernel should be aware of this issue as it poses a medium severity risk.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.5, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is local, suggesting that an attacker would need local access to exploit this vulnerability. Given that the availability impact is rated high, organizations should act promptly to patch their systems to prevent disruptions.
Currently, there are no known exploits associated with this vulnerability, and it has not been included in any Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) list, indicating a lower immediate risk of exploitation in the wild. However, the potential for availability disruption necessitates attention.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. This ensures that systems remain secure and operational, reducing the risk of service interruptions caused by this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is described in detail as follows: In the Linux kernel, the Slimbus device management code has a flaw that can lead to a device reference leak upon the reception of report-present messages. This situation arises because a reference is not dropped correctly when looking up already registered devices.
This vulnerability affects versions of the Linux kernel starting from 4.16 up to 5.10.249, as well as specific later versions in the 5.x and 6.x series, up to 6.19, which are in release candidate stages.
The CVSS vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H, which indicates that low privileges are required for exploitation, and there is no user interaction necessary.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of the vulnerability lies in the handling of device references in the Slimbus subsystem. When a report-present message is received, a device reference is acquired without proper management of that reference. If the device has not been registered yet, an additional reference is taken, which can lead to a leak if not handled correctly.
This vulnerability has been classified as having a low attack complexity and requires low privileges to exploit, meaning that it could be exploited by any local user with minimal effort. No user interaction is required, which further increases the risk of exploitation.
The impacts of this vulnerability could lead to high availability disruption, as the improper management of device references may result in system instability or crashes.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential service disruptions if this vulnerability is exploited. Given the high availability impact, organizations running affected kernel versions should conduct a risk assessment to determine the potential blast radius if the vulnerability were to be exploited.
While this vulnerability is not currently known to be actively exploited in the wild, organizations should not become complacent. The nature of local vulnerabilities means that they can be exploited by insiders or through physical access.
Organizations should address this vulnerability in their patch management cycle, ensuring that they apply the necessary updates and harden their systems to minimize the risk of exploitation.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions of the Linux kernel are affected by this vulnerability:
All versions from 4.16 to 5.10.249, and versions in the range of 5.11 to 5.15.199, 5.16 to 6.1.162, 6.2 to 6.6.122, 6.7 to 6.12.68, and 6.13 to 6.18.8, as well as release candidates 6.19:rc1 to 6.19:rc6.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply the latest patches from the Linux kernel project to mitigate this vulnerability. For systems that cannot be patched immediately, implementing workarounds such as restricting access to local users may help reduce exposure.
For detailed guidance on patching and security testing, organizations can refer to our penetration testing services to identify similar weaknesses.
Detection Guidance
To detect exploitation attempts, monitoring logs for anomalies related to device allocations and Slimbus messages is recommended. Additionally, organizations should be vigilant for unexpected system crashes or instability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date systems and the risks associated with local vulnerabilities. As organizations increasingly rely on Linux-based systems, understanding the implications of such vulnerabilities is crucial.
For deeper insights into security best practices, organizations may explore our penetration testing methodology and how it can be applied effectively.
In addition, reviewing our vulnerability management program design can further aid in identifying and mitigating risks associated with vulnerabilities like CVE-2026-23090.
Lastly, for organizations looking to enhance their security posture, our API penetration testing guide offers valuable insights into securing application interfaces.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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