Linux: Use of Uninitialized Resource
CVE-2026-53170 is a high-severity use of uninitialized resource vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions fb25c76a820ca8a547aa478bfb503da0a11494ab, d9d021218162b6c4fe0bdf42b2b340f1aae23a12 as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.18% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux to fb25c76a820ca8a547aa478bfb503da0a11494ab or d9d021218162b6c4fe0bdf42b2b340f1aae23a12, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 7.0.13 or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 5a5e9c0228e613f0ef2a58b9782d7c0ea8f1e58b up to, but not including, fb25c76a820ca8a547aa478bfb503da0a11494ab; 5a5e9c0228e613f0ef2a58b9782d7c0ea8f1e58b up to, but not including, d9d021218162b6c4fe0bdf42b2b340f1aae23a12; 6.19 | fb25c76a820ca8a547aa478bfb503da0a11494ab, d9d021218162b6c4fe0bdf42b2b340f1aae23a12 |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 6.19 up to, but not including, 7.0.13; 7.1 | 7.0.13 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: accel/ethosu: reject DMA commands with uninitialized length cmd_state_init() initializes the command state with memset(0xff), leaving dma->len at U64_MAX to signal missing setup. The only setter is NPU_SET_DMA0_LEN; if userspace omits this command and issues NPU_OP_DMA_START, dma->len remains U64_MAX. In dma_length(), a positive stride added to U64_MAX wraps to a small value. With size0 == 1, check_mul_overflow() does not trigger and dma_length() returns 0 instead of U64_MAX. The caller's U64_MAX check then passes, region_size[] stays 0, and the bounds check in ethosu_job.c is bypassed, allowing hardware to execute DMA with stale physical addresses. Fix by checking for U64_MAX at the start of dma_length() before any arithmetic, consistent with the sentinel value used throughout the driver to detect uninitialized fields.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use of Uninitialized Resource
The product uses or accesses a resource that has not been initialized.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Explicitly initialize the resource before use. If this is performed through an API function or standard procedure, follow all required steps.
- Pay close attention to complex conditionals that affect initialization, since some branches might not perform the initialization.
- Avoid race conditions (CWE-362) during initialization routines.
More Use of Uninitialized Resource vulnerabilities (CWE-908)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Recent Use of Uninitialized Resource vulnerabilities
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.3 High severity
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