CVE-2026-23472 (GCVE-0-2026-23472)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-04-03 15:15 – Updated: 2026-05-11 22:07
VLAI
EPSS
VEX
Title
serial: core: fix infinite loop in handle_tx() for PORT_UNKNOWN
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
serial: core: fix infinite loop in handle_tx() for PORT_UNKNOWN
uart_write_room() and uart_write() behave inconsistently when
xmit_buf is NULL (which happens for PORT_UNKNOWN ports that were
never properly initialized):
- uart_write_room() returns kfifo_avail() which can be > 0
- uart_write() checks xmit_buf and returns 0 if NULL
This inconsistency causes an infinite loop in drivers that rely on
tty_write_room() to determine if they can write:
while (tty_write_room(tty) > 0) {
written = tty->ops->write(...);
// written is always 0, loop never exits
}
For example, caif_serial's handle_tx() enters an infinite loop when
used with PORT_UNKNOWN serial ports, causing system hangs.
Fix by making uart_write_room() also check xmit_buf and return 0 if
it's NULL, consistent with uart_write().
Reproducer: https://gist.github.com/mrpre/d9a694cc0e19828ee3bc3b37983fde13
Severity
5.5 (Medium)
Assigner
References
Impacted products
2 products
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux |
Affected:
1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 , < efe85a557186b7fe915572ae93a8f3f78bfd9a22
(git)
Affected: 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 , < bc70f2b36cf474d5cc8ecbcaf57f3e326fdec67c (git) Affected: 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 , < 455ce986fa356ff43a43c0d363ba95fa152f21d5 (git) |
guessed | |
| Linux | Linux |
Affected:
2.6.12
Unaffected: 0 , < 2.6.12 (semver) Unaffected: 6.18.20 , ≤ 6.18.* (semver) Unaffected: 6.19.10 , ≤ 6.19.* (semver) Unaffected: 7.0 , ≤ * (original_commit_for_fix) |
guessed |
{
"containers": {
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"product": "Linux",
"programFiles": [
"drivers/tty/serial/serial_core.c"
],
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"vendor": "Linux",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "efe85a557186b7fe915572ae93a8f3f78bfd9a22",
"status": "affected",
"version": "1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2",
"versionType": "git"
},
{
"lessThan": "bc70f2b36cf474d5cc8ecbcaf57f3e326fdec67c",
"status": "affected",
"version": "1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2",
"versionType": "git"
},
{
"lessThan": "455ce986fa356ff43a43c0d363ba95fa152f21d5",
"status": "affected",
"version": "1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2",
"versionType": "git"
}
]
},
{
"defaultStatus": "affected",
"product": "Linux",
"programFiles": [
"drivers/tty/serial/serial_core.c"
],
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"vendor": "Linux",
"versions": [
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "2.6.12"
},
{
"lessThan": "2.6.12",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "0",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.18.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.18.20",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.19.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.19.10",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "7.0",
"versionType": "original_commit_for_fix"
}
]
}
],
"cpeApplicability": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"cpeMatch": [
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"versionEndExcluding": "6.18.20",
"versionStartIncluding": "2.6.12",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"versionEndExcluding": "6.19.10",
"versionStartIncluding": "2.6.12",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"versionEndExcluding": "7.0",
"versionStartIncluding": "2.6.12",
"vulnerable": true
}
],
"negate": false,
"operator": "OR"
}
]
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nserial: core: fix infinite loop in handle_tx() for PORT_UNKNOWN\n\nuart_write_room() and uart_write() behave inconsistently when\nxmit_buf is NULL (which happens for PORT_UNKNOWN ports that were\nnever properly initialized):\n\n- uart_write_room() returns kfifo_avail() which can be \u003e 0\n- uart_write() checks xmit_buf and returns 0 if NULL\n\nThis inconsistency causes an infinite loop in drivers that rely on\ntty_write_room() to determine if they can write:\n\n while (tty_write_room(tty) \u003e 0) {\n written = tty-\u003eops-\u003ewrite(...);\n // written is always 0, loop never exits\n }\n\nFor example, caif_serial\u0027s handle_tx() enters an infinite loop when\nused with PORT_UNKNOWN serial ports, causing system hangs.\n\nFix by making uart_write_room() also check xmit_buf and return 0 if\nit\u0027s NULL, consistent with uart_write().\n\nReproducer: https://gist.github.com/mrpre/d9a694cc0e19828ee3bc3b37983fde13"
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-05-11T22:07:41.736Z",
"orgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"shortName": "Linux"
},
"references": [
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/efe85a557186b7fe915572ae93a8f3f78bfd9a22"
},
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bc70f2b36cf474d5cc8ecbcaf57f3e326fdec67c"
},
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/455ce986fa356ff43a43c0d363ba95fa152f21d5"
}
],
"title": "serial: core: fix infinite loop in handle_tx() for PORT_UNKNOWN",
"x_generator": {
"engine": "bippy-1.2.0"
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"assignerShortName": "Linux",
"cveId": "CVE-2026-23472",
"datePublished": "2026-04-03T15:15:51.209Z",
"dateReserved": "2026-01-13T15:37:46.022Z",
"dateUpdated": "2026-05-11T22:07:41.736Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.2",
"vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
"epss": {
"cve": "CVE-2026-23472",
"date": "2026-09-18",
"epss": "0.00121",
"percentile": "0.02214"
},
"microsoft_vex": {
"current_release_date": "2026-06-28T02:05:08.000Z",
"cve": "CVE-2026-23472",
"id": "msrc_CVE-2026-23472",
"initial_release_date": "2026-04-02T00:00:00.000Z",
"product_status:known_affected": "7",
"source": "Microsoft CSAF VEX",
"status": "final",
"title": "serial: core: fix infinite loop in handle_tx() for PORT_UNKNOWN",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/csaf/vex/2026/msrc_cve-2026-23472.json",
"version": "8"
},
"nvd": {
"cve": {
"affected": [
{
"affectedData": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"product": "Linux",
"programFiles": [
"drivers/tty/serial/serial_core.c"
],
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"vendor": "Linux",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "efe85a557186b7fe915572ae93a8f3f78bfd9a22",
"status": "affected",
"version": "1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2",
"versionType": "git"
},
{
"lessThan": "bc70f2b36cf474d5cc8ecbcaf57f3e326fdec67c",
"status": "affected",
"version": "1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2",
"versionType": "git"
},
{
"lessThan": "455ce986fa356ff43a43c0d363ba95fa152f21d5",
"status": "affected",
"version": "1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2",
"versionType": "git"
}
]
},
{
"defaultStatus": "affected",
"product": "Linux",
"programFiles": [
"drivers/tty/serial/serial_core.c"
],
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"vendor": "Linux",
"versions": [
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "2.6.12"
},
{
"lessThan": "2.6.12",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "0",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.18.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.18.20",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.19.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.19.10",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "7.0",
"versionType": "original_commit_for_fix"
}
]
}
],
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
}
],
"configurations": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"cpeMatch": [
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "C04EFB79-759E-465D-B79E-F062CD8CBD1B",
"versionEndExcluding": "6.18.20",
"versionStartIncluding": "2.6.12.1",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "96D34333-38BE-4414-9E79-6EB764329581",
"versionEndExcluding": "6.19.10",
"versionStartIncluding": "6.19",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:-:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "6F62EECE-8FB1-4D57-85D8-CB9E23CF313C",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "4F76C298-81DC-43E4-8FC9-DC005A2116EF",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "0AB349B2-3F78-4197-882B-90ADB3BF645A",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "6AC88830-A9BC-4607-B572-A4B502FC9FD0",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "476CB3A5-D022-4F13-AAEF-CB6A5785516A",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "F253B622-8837-4245-BCE5-A7BF8FC76A16",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "4AE85AD8-4641-4E7C-A2F4-305E2CD9EE64",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "F666C8D8-6538-46D4-B318-87610DE64C34",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "02259FDA-961B-47BC-AE7F-93D7EC6E90C2",
"vulnerable": true
}
],
"negate": false,
"operator": "OR"
}
]
}
],
"cveTags": [],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nserial: core: fix infinite loop in handle_tx() for PORT_UNKNOWN\n\nuart_write_room() and uart_write() behave inconsistently when\nxmit_buf is NULL (which happens for PORT_UNKNOWN ports that were\nnever properly initialized):\n\n- uart_write_room() returns kfifo_avail() which can be \u003e 0\n- uart_write() checks xmit_buf and returns 0 if NULL\n\nThis inconsistency causes an infinite loop in drivers that rely on\ntty_write_room() to determine if they can write:\n\n while (tty_write_room(tty) \u003e 0) {\n written = tty-\u003eops-\u003ewrite(...);\n // written is always 0, loop never exits\n }\n\nFor example, caif_serial\u0027s handle_tx() enters an infinite loop when\nused with PORT_UNKNOWN serial ports, causing system hangs.\n\nFix by making uart_write_room() also check xmit_buf and return 0 if\nit\u0027s NULL, consistent with uart_write().\n\nReproducer: https://gist.github.com/mrpre/d9a694cc0e19828ee3bc3b37983fde13"
},
{
"lang": "es",
"value": "En el kernel de Linux, la siguiente vulnerabilidad ha sido resuelta:\n\nserial: core: correcci\u00f3n de bucle infinito en handle_tx() para PORT_UNKNOWN\n\nuart_write_room() y uart_write() se comportan de forma inconsistente cuando xmit_buf es NULL (lo cual ocurre para puertos PORT_UNKNOWN que nunca fueron inicializados correctamente):\n\n- uart_write_room() devuelve kfifo_avail() que puede ser \u003e 0\n- uart_write() comprueba xmit_buf y devuelve 0 si es NULL\n\nEsta inconsistencia causa un bucle infinito en controladores que dependen de tty_write_room() para determinar si pueden escribir:\n\n while (tty_write_room(tty) \u003e 0) {\n written = tty-\u003eops-\u003ewrite(...);\n // written es siempre 0, el bucle nunca sale\n }\n\nPor ejemplo, el handle_tx() de caif_serial entra en un bucle infinito cuando se usa con puertos serie PORT_UNKNOWN, causando cuelgues del sistema.\n\nSoluci\u00f3n al hacer que uart_write_room() tambi\u00e9n compruebe xmit_buf y devuelva 0 si es NULL, consistente con uart_write().\n\nReproductor: https://gist.github.com/mrpre/d9a694cc0e19828ee3bc3b37983fde13"
}
],
"id": "CVE-2026-23472",
"lastModified": "2026-07-20T20:10:00.110",
"metrics": {
"cvssMetricV31": [
{
"cvssData": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 5.5,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"integrityImpact": "NONE",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
"impactScore": 3.6,
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"type": "Primary"
}
]
},
"published": "2026-04-03T16:16:34.977",
"references": [
{
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/455ce986fa356ff43a43c0d363ba95fa152f21d5"
},
{
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bc70f2b36cf474d5cc8ecbcaf57f3e326fdec67c"
},
{
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/efe85a557186b7fe915572ae93a8f3f78bfd9a22"
}
],
"sourceIdentifier": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
"weaknesses": [
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-835"
}
],
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"type": "Primary"
}
]
}
},
"redhat_vex": {
"aggregate_severity": "Moderate",
"current_release_date": "2026-06-28T07:21:10+00:00",
"cve": "CVE-2026-23472",
"id": "CVE-2026-23472",
"initial_release_date": "2026-04-03T00:00:00+00:00",
"product_status:known_affected": "260",
"product_status:known_not_affected": "14",
"source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
"status": "final",
"title": "kernel: serial: core: fix infinite loop in handle_tx() for PORT_UNKNOWN",
"url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-23472.json",
"version": "3"
},
"suse_vex": {
"aggregate_severity": "moderate",
"current_release_date": "2026-09-11T01:35:44Z",
"cve": "CVE-2026-23472",
"id": "CVE-2026-23472",
"initial_release_date": "2026-04-03T23:27:01Z",
"product_status:first_fixed": "2",
"product_status:known_not_affected": "274",
"product_status:recommended": "317",
"source": "SUSE CSAF VEX",
"status": "interim",
"title": "SUSE CVE CVE-2026-23472",
"url": "https://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/security/csaf-vex/cve-2026-23472.json",
"version": "15"
}
}
}
Loading…
Loading…
Experimental. This forecast is provided for visualization only and may change without notice. Do not use it for operational decisions.
Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Loading…
The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the
vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base
model, served locally by ML-Gateway.
They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
Loading…
Related by attack behaviour
Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.
Loading…