Linux Kernel up to 6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4 NFC trf7970a driver trf7970a_startup denial of service

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5.3	$0-$5k	0.91

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4. This issue affects the function trf7970a_startup of the component NFC trf7970a driver. The manipulation results in denial of service. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-98480. The attack must be initiated from a local position. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4. Affected is the function trf7970a_startup of the component NFC trf7970a driver. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a denial of service vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-404. The product does not release or incorrectly releases a resource before it is made available for re-use. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfc: trf7970a: power down on startup RX gain failure trf7970a_startup() powers up the device before applying the optional RX gain reduction. If the register read or write fails, it returns without undoing that power-up. Probe's unwind only drops the separate regulator references acquired by probe, leaving the additional VIN enable from startup unbalanced. The system resume caller also has no power-down on this error. Call trf7970a_power_down() before returning the RX gain error to deassert the enable GPIOs, release the startup VIN reference and restore the powered-off state. Runtime PM has not been enabled yet, so the full shutdown helper is not appropriate here. Preserve the original SPI error. This issue was identified during our ongoing static-analysis research while reviewing kernel code.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-98480 since 09/25/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch cc444e4ad43461374dd128573eccb8979d2adb4c/6ef70d790425e76b42c69e416ee78c62bdc37d00/d2acbde7e67df44efa8f0963462d1192e7694ffc is able to eliminate this problem. 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
• 6.18.20
• 6.18.21
• 6.18.22
• 6.18.23
• 6.18.24
• 6.18.25
• 6.18.26
• 6.18.27
• 6.18.28
• 6.18.29
• 6.18.30
• 6.18.31
• 6.18.32
• 6.18.33
• 6.18.34
• 6.18.35
• 6.18.36
• 6.18.37
• 6.18.38
• 6.18.39
• 6.18.40
• 6.18.41
• 6.18.42
• 6.18.43
• 6.18.44
• 6.18.45
• 6.18.46
• 6.18.47
• 6.18.48
• 6.18.49
• 6.18.50
• 6.18.51
• 6.18.52
• 6.18.53
• 6.18.54
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5
• 7.2.6
• 7.2.7
• 7.2.8
• 7.3-rc1
• 7.3-rc2
• 7.3-rc3
• 7.3-rc4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.3

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Denial of service
CWE: CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5
Patch: cc444e4ad43461374dd128573eccb8979d2adb4c/6ef70d790425e76b42c69e416ee78c62bdc37d00/d2acbde7e67df44efa8f0963462d1192e7694ffc

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/18/2026 +23 days Advisory disclosed
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98480 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98480
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-422184

Entryinfo

Created: 10/18/2026 20:54
Changes: 10/18/2026 20:54 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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