CVE-2026-72480 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 08/15/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
iio: adc: xilinx-ams: fix out-of-bounds channel lookup in event handling
ams_event_to_channel() may return a pointer past the end of dev->channels when no matching scan_index is found. This can lead to invalid memory access in ams_handle_event().
Add a bounds check in ams_event_to_channel() and return NULL when no channel is found. Also guard the caller to safely handle this case.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2026
The vulnerability identified in the xilinx-ams driver within the Linux kernel represents a critical out-of-bounds memory access flaw that could potentially lead to system instability or privilege escalation. This issue resides in the analog-to-digital converter subsystem specifically affecting Xilinx AMS (Analog Monitoring System) devices used for monitoring various hardware parameters such as temperature, voltage, and current levels. The vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking during event handling operations within the IIO (Industrial I/O) framework.
The technical flaw manifests in the ams_event_to_channel() function which is responsible for mapping event identifiers to corresponding channel structures within the device's channel array. When no matching scan_index is found during this lookup process, the function returns a pointer that extends beyond the allocated memory boundaries of dev->channels. This occurs because the function does not properly validate whether the calculated channel index falls within the valid range of the channels array. Subsequently, when ams_handle_event() processes this invalid pointer, it attempts to access memory locations that may not be allocated or accessible, resulting in undefined behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption as it could enable malicious actors to exploit the out-of-bounds access for privilege escalation attacks or system crashes. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient validation of critical bounds, and is categorized under the broader class of buffer overflow vulnerabilities that can be leveraged for code execution or denial of service. Attackers could potentially trigger this condition through malformed event handling operations or by manipulating IIO subsystem calls to the affected Xilinx AMS devices.
The fix implemented addresses both the root cause and its consequences by adding explicit bounds checking within ams_event_to_channel() function to ensure that channel indices remain within valid array boundaries before returning a pointer. When no matching channel is found, the function now properly returns NULL instead of an invalid memory address. Additionally, the caller functions have been safeguarded with proper NULL pointer checks to handle cases where no channel is found, preventing cascading failures and ensuring graceful degradation of functionality.
This remediation approach aligns with security best practices for kernel development and follows the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for privilege escalation through memory corruption vulnerabilities. The solution maintains backward compatibility while strengthening the kernel's memory safety mechanisms and demonstrates proper defensive programming principles that should be applied across similar IIO subsystem drivers. The fix specifically addresses the threat vector where malicious inputs could cause the kernel to access unauthorized memory regions, thereby reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation of kernel memory corruption vulnerabilities in embedded systems utilizing Xilinx AMS monitoring capabilities.
The vulnerability resolution represents a typical example of how improper bounds checking in kernel space can create serious security implications, emphasizing the critical importance of input validation and memory safety in operating system components. This fix contributes to the overall stability and security posture of Linux systems that utilize Xilinx hardware monitoring solutions, particularly in industrial and embedded environments where system reliability is paramount. The implemented solution follows established security engineering principles and demonstrates the necessity of comprehensive testing and code review processes for kernel subsystems handling hardware-specific device operations within the IIO framework.