Race condition in Linux kernel mxc GPIO driver IRQ handler setup
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel from 6.6 is affected. In the gpio mxc driver, the chained IRQ handler is installed before the IRQ domain, generic IRQ chip and port list entry are set up, so an interrupt arriving early can use incomplete data structures. If a later probe step fails, the error paths leave the handler registered, and it points at freed memory.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: gpio: mxc: fix race between chained IRQ handler install and probe completion mxc_update_irq_chained_handler() is called before the IRQ domain, the generic IRQ chip, and the port list entry are set up. If an interrupt arrives in that window: - mx3_gpio_irq_handler() calls generic_handle_domain_irq() with port->domain still NULL. - mx2_gpio_irq_handler() walks mxc_gpio_ports, but the port has not been added to the list yet. Additionally, if any of the subsequent probe steps (gpio_generic_chip_init(), devm_gpiochip_add_data(), irq_domain_create_legacy(), or mxc_gpio_init_gc()) fail, the error paths never unregister the chained handler, leaving a dangling handler that points at freed memory. Move the handler installation after all its dependencies are ready and after list_add_tail(), so the handler is never live while the data structures it touches are incomplete, and is never installed if probe fails.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Linux kernel versions 6.18.59, 7.2.13 and 7.3 fix this issue. Red Hat lists Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 as affected, with no fix available yet.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.18.59, 7.2.13, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-28 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-99189
- 2026-10-28 Alias added: GHSA-ghxr-2qfh-mxwc
- 2026-11-02 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-02 CVSS score added · Red Hat
References
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Sources
- CVE-2026-99189 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-99189 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-ghxr-2qfh-mxwc · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-99189 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences