CPU lockup via false SLVSTART interrupt loop
Published Sep 24, 2026 · Updated Sep 24, 2026
Denial of service in the Linux kernel before 6.18.53 allows attackers to lock a CPU through an I3C target holding SDA low on NPCM845. In svc_i3c_master_ibi_isr(), the Master Request path emits STOP without clearing quirk-induced SLVSTART, so each handler pass triggers another interrupt. Reachability requires NPCM845 hardware with the false-SLVSTART quirk and a target stuck holding SDA low; the resulting IRQ storm can leave the CPU unresponsive.
Summary
What happened
Denial of service in the Linux kernel before 6.18.53 allows attackers to lock a CPU through an I3C target holding SDA low on NPCM845. In svc_i3c_master_ibi_isr(), the Master Request path emits STOP without clearing quirk-induced SLVSTART, so each handler pass triggers another interrupt. Reachability requires NPCM845 hardware with the false-SLVSTART quirk and a target stuck holding SDA low; the resulting IRQ storm can leave the CPU unresponsive.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-97515
- Published
- Sep 24, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 24, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- Unavailable
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 24, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 24, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=0 <6.18.53
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <1effa3adfe53cb2bb28bf5640a676b791d5ab405
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <e9b139c4684ed8593a0b779ca02ea05f460b2eec
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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