Linux Kernel up to 6.18.52 8250 Port Driver 8250_port.c set_io_from_upio Local Privilege Escalation

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.52. This impacts the function set_io_from_upio of the file drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_port.c of the component 8250 Port Driver. The manipulation leads to an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2026-98883. The attack must be carried out locally. There is no available exploit. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.52. It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects the function set_io_from_upio of the file drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_port.c of the component 8250 Port Driver. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: serial: 8250_port: recognize UPIO_AU My MIPS Alchemy systems generate the following warning during probe of the 8250 driver: WARNING: drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_port.c:462 at set_io_from_upio+0xfc/0x124, CPU#0: swapper/0/1 Unsupported UART type 4 [...] [<80521d40>] set_io_from_upio+0xfc/0x124 [<80521dfc>] serial8250_set_defaults+0x94/0xe0 [<80520fb4>] serial8250_register_8250_port+0x288/0x51c [<805214ec>] serial8250_probe+0x160/0x1e8 [<8053b5f0>] platform_probe+0x64/0x90 The least invasive fix is to recognize UPIO_AU (type 4) in set_io_from_upio() and do nothing, since all parameters have already been set up in 8250_rt288x.c::au_platform_setup(). Run-tested on Alchemy Au1300 platform.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-98883 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/23/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.18.53 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 9f67997353caa29c6a080789a1fb6e01fb50c118/49fa670efdfdd27e29145cbd2beef065c08717ef is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best 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
• 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

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

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Discussion