Linux Kernel up to 6.18.9 i2c i2c_imx_master_isr buffer overflow

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.9. This affects the function i2c_imx_master_isr of the component i2c. The manipulation leads to buffer overflow. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-23197. There is no exploit available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.9. This issue affects the function i2c_imx_master_isr of the component i2c. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a buffer overflow vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-120. The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer, leading to a buffer overflow. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: i2c: imx: preserve error state in block data length handler When a block read returns an invalid length, zero or >I2C_SMBUS_BLOCK_MAX, the length handler sets the state to IMX_I2C_STATE_FAILED. However, i2c_imx_master_isr() unconditionally overwrites this with IMX_I2C_STATE_READ_CONTINUE, causing an endless read loop that overruns buffers and crashes the system. Guard the state transition to preserve error states set by the length handler.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-23197 since 01/13/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 03/19/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 299092 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23197), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.18.10 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 3f9b508b3eecc00a243edf320bd83834d6a9b482/b126097b0327437048bd045a0e4d273dea2910dd is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (299092). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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