Linux Kernel up to 7.2.3 rtw89 rtw89_ops_rfkill_poll improper synchronization

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.3. Affected by this issue is the function rtw89_ops_rfkill_poll of the component rtw89. Such manipulation leads to improper synchronization. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-80939. The attack needs to be performed locally. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.3 and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function rtw89_ops_rfkill_poll of the component rtw89. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a improper synchronization vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-662. The product utilizes multiple threads or processes to allow temporary access to a shared resource that can only be exclusive to one process at a time, but it does not properly synchronize these actions, which might cause simultaneous accesses of this resource by multiple threads or processes. Impacted is availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: rtw89: pci: add .shutdown callback to stop rfkill polling on reboot Since the hardware rfkill polling was introduced, arm64 platforms can panic with an asynchronous SError during warm reboot: SError Interrupt on CPU8, code 0x00000000be000011 -- SError Workqueue: events_power_efficient rfkill_poll [rfkill] rtw89_pci_ops_read8+0x94/0x160 [rtw89_pci] rtw89_core_rfkill_poll+0x50/0x1e0 [rtw89_core] rtw89_ops_rfkill_poll+0x40/0x68 [rtw89_core] ieee80211_rfkill_poll+0x3c/0x70 [mac80211] cfg80211_rfkill_poll+0x40/0x2a0 [cfg80211] rfkill_poll+0x30/0x88 [rfkill] Kernel panic - not syncing: Asynchronous SError Interrupt On the reboot path the kernel only runs device_shutdown(), which calls each driver's .shutdown callback; .remove is not invoked. The rtw89 PCI driver had no .shutdown callback, so nothing stopped the rfkill polling work while the platform was tearing the PCIe link down. Once the link is gone, the next MMIO read from the poll handler targets a non-responding device and is reported as a fatal asynchronous SError on arm64. Add rtw89_pci_shutdown(), wired to all rtw89 PCI device drivers, which sets a new RTW89_FLAG_SHUTDOWN flag (mirroring the USB RTW89_FLAG_UNPLUGGED pattern). When the flag is set, rtw89_ops_rfkill_poll() returns early, so no MMIO read is issued to the chip after shutdown begins and the SError no longer occurs. This does not call the full .remove path from .shutdown, to keep the shutdown handler minimal and avoid running the non-idempotent teardown twice.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-80939 since 08/26/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. The exploitation needs additional levels of successful authentication. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 7.2.4 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch c1f214dd1351244156deb57761b14190a233aef6/667c12782aaf8dd3cb2213e528fe63a73cb63345 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Discussion