Linux Kernel up to 6.18.19/6.19.9/7.0-rc4 i915 intel_dmc_update_dc6_allowed_count null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.19/6.19.9/7.0-rc4. Affected by this vulnerability is the function intel_dmc_update_dc6_allowed_count of the component i915. Such manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-23467. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.19/6.19.9/7.0-rc4. Affected by this issue is the function intel_dmc_update_dc6_allowed_count of the component i915. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. Impacted is availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/i915/dmc: Fix an unlikely NULL pointer deference at probe intel_dmc_update_dc6_allowed_count() oopses when DMC hasn't been initialized, and dmc is thus NULL. That would be the case when the call path is intel_power_domains_init_hw() -> {skl,bxt,icl}_display_core_init() -> gen9_set_dc_state() -> intel_dmc_update_dc6_allowed_count(), as intel_power_domains_init_hw() is called *before* intel_dmc_init(). However, gen9_set_dc_state() calls intel_dmc_update_dc6_allowed_count() conditionally, depending on the current and target DC states. At probe, the target is disabled, but if DC6 is enabled, the function is called, and an oops follows. Apparently it's quite unlikely that DC6 is enabled at probe, as we haven't seen this failure mode before. It is also strange to have DC6 enabled at boot, since that would require the DMC firmware (loaded by BIOS); the BIOS loading the DMC firmware and the driver stopping / reprogramming the firmware is a poorly specified sequence and as such unlikely an intentional BIOS behaviour. It's more likely that BIOS is leaving an unintentionally enabled DC6 HW state behind (without actually loading the required DMC firmware for this). The tracking of the DC6 allowed counter only works if starting / stopping the counter depends on the _SW_ DC6 state vs. the current _HW_ DC6 state (since stopping the counter requires the DC5 counter captured when the counter was started). Thus, using the HW DC6 state is incorrect and it also leads to the above oops. Fix both issues by using the SW DC6 state for the tracking. This is v2 of the fix originally sent by Jani, updated based on the first Link: discussion below. (cherry picked from commit 2344b93af8eb5da5d496b4e0529d35f0f559eaf0)

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-23467 since 01/13/2026. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.18.20, 6.19.10 or 7.0-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 0b35d11fbbcfd1079c8489282a341944228835e3/631317825d44283abfe7a8374f13a76ce2032bb8/ac57eb3b7d2ad649025b5a0fa207315f755ac4f6 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.

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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
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
• 6.18.12
• 6.18.13
• 6.18.14
• 6.18.15
• 6.18.16
• 6.18.17
• 6.18.18
• 6.18.19
• 6.19.0
• 6.19.1
• 6.19.2
• 6.19.3
• 6.19.4
• 6.19.5
• 6.19.6
• 6.19.7
• 6.19.8
• 6.19.9
• 7.0-rc1
• 7.0-rc2
• 7.0-rc3
• 7.0-rc4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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Entryinfo

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