serial: core: fix infinite loop in handle_tx() for PORT_UNKNOWN
uart_write_room() and uart_write() behave inconsistently when
xmit_buf is NULL (which happens for PORT_UNKNOWN ports that were
never properly initialized):
- uart_write_room() returns kfifo_avail() which can be > 0
- uart_write() checks xmit_buf and returns 0 if NULL
This inconsistency causes an infinite loop in drivers that rely on
tty_write_room() to determine if they can write:
while (tty_write_room(tty) > 0) {
written = tty->ops->write(...);
// written is always 0, loop never exits
}
For example, caif_serial's handle_tx() enters an infinite loop when
used with PORT_UNKNOWN serial ports, causing system hangs.
Fix by making uart_write_room() also check xmit_buf and return 0 if
it's NULL, consistent with uart_write().
Reproducer: https://gist.github.com/mrpre/d9a694cc0e19828ee3bc3b37983fde13
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Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-617 |
Sat, 04 Apr 2026 01:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-474 | |
| References |
| |
| Metrics |
threat_severity
|
cvssV3_1
|
Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-617 |
Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: serial: core: fix infinite loop in handle_tx() for PORT_UNKNOWN uart_write_room() and uart_write() behave inconsistently when xmit_buf is NULL (which happens for PORT_UNKNOWN ports that were never properly initialized): - uart_write_room() returns kfifo_avail() which can be > 0 - uart_write() checks xmit_buf and returns 0 if NULL This inconsistency causes an infinite loop in drivers that rely on tty_write_room() to determine if they can write: while (tty_write_room(tty) > 0) { written = tty->ops->write(...); // written is always 0, loop never exits } For example, caif_serial's handle_tx() enters an infinite loop when used with PORT_UNKNOWN serial ports, causing system hangs. Fix by making uart_write_room() also check xmit_buf and return 0 if it's NULL, consistent with uart_write(). Reproducer: https://gist.github.com/mrpre/d9a694cc0e19828ee3bc3b37983fde13 | |
| Title | serial: core: fix infinite loop in handle_tx() for PORT_UNKNOWN | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-05-11T22:07:41.736Z
Reserved: 2026-01-13T15:37:46.022Z
Link: CVE-2026-23472
No data.
Status : Awaiting Analysis
Published: 2026-04-03T16:16:34.977
Modified: 2026-04-07T13:20:55.200
Link: CVE-2026-23472
OpenCVE Enrichment
Updated: 2026-04-08T19:53:38Z