CVE-2026-10669: Xtensa MPU `arch_buffer_validate()` integer-overflow lets a user thread bypass syscall pointer validation

Published Jul 14, 2026
·
Updated

On Xtensa SoCs built with CONFIGXTENSAMPU and CONFIGUSERSPACE, archbuffervalidate() in arch/xtensa/core/mpu.c — the architecture hook that verifies a user-mode-supplied buffer is accessible to the calling user thread with the requested permission — defaulted its return value to 0 (access permitted) and only set a denial result inside its per-MPU-region probe loop. When the rounded extent of the buffer wraps the 32-bit address space (size + alignment offset near SIZEMAX, or ROUNDUP(size + offset) overflowing to 0), the loop executes zero iterations and the function returns 0 = permitted without probing any MPU region.

The syscall-layer pre-checks (KSYSCALLMEMORYSIZECHECK / ZDETECTPOINTEROVERFLOW) only catch a raw addr+size wrap and do not cover the ROUNDUP-induced wrap, and the string path (archuserstringnlen -> archbuffervalidate) has no syscall-layer guard at all.

An unprivileged user-mode thread can therefore pass a crafted (addr, size) to any syscall that validates user buffers via kusermodefromcopy/tocopy or kusermodestringcopy and have validation succeed for memory it must not access; the kernel then reads from (disclosure) or, with write=1, writes to (corruption) attacker-chosen kernel or other-partition memory on the thread's behalf, enabling information disclosure, memory corruption, privilege escalation, and denial of service.

Affected from v3.7.0 (when Xtensa MPU userspace support was added) through v4.4.0. The fix changes the default to -EINVAL (deny by default), adds an explicit sizeaddoverflow check, and sets the success value only after the full range has been validated.

Affected Software

2 affected components
Zephyr Xtensa MPU (arch/xtensa/core/mpu.c) arch_buffer_validate()>=3.7.0<=4.4.0
zephyrproject zephyr>=3.7.0<4.5.0

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade Xtensa MPU arch_buffer_validate in arch/xtensa/core/mpu.c to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in v4.4.0
  2. Configuration

    Apply the fix in arch/xtensa/core/mpu.c so arch_buffer_validate() defaults to deny-by-default (-EINVAL) instead of returning 0 (access permitted) before MPU region probing.

    Xtensa MPU (CONFIG_XTENSA_MPU and CONFIG_USERSPACE) arch_buffer_validate() default return value = -EINVAL
  3. Configuration

    Apply the fix to add an explicit size_add_overflow check in arch_buffer_validate() to prevent integer overflow from bypassing buffer access validation.

    Xtensa MPU (arch_buffer_validate in arch/xtensa/core/mpu.c) size_add_overflow check = enabled
  4. Configuration

    Apply the fix so the function sets the success/permit result only after the full buffer range has been validated (not before/with a zero-iteration probe due to rounded-wrap).

    Xtensa MPU (arch_buffer_validate in arch/xtensa/core/mpu.c) success value assignment timing = after full range validated
  5. Compensating control

    For Xtensa systems using CONFIG_XTENSA_MPU and CONFIG_USERSPACE, add an external syscall-entry mitigation/guard so the string path (arch_user_string_nlen -> arch_buffer_validate) also has pointer-validation coverage equivalent to the syscall-layer pre-checks mentioned (K_SYSCALL_MEMORY_SIZE_CHECK / Z_DETECT_POINTER_OVERFLOW), since the string path has no syscall-layer guard as described.

Event History

Jul 14, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:02 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:02 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·03:16 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-10669?

CVE-2026-10669 has a high severity rating of 7.8.

2

What is the main issue related to CVE-2026-10669?

CVE-2026-10669 involves an integer overflow in `arch_buffer_validate()` that allows a user thread to bypass syscall pointer validation.

3

How do I fix CVE-2026-10669?

To fix CVE-2026-10669, update your Zephyr Xtensa MPU to a version that addresses the integer overflow in `arch_buffer_validate()`.

4

Which software is affected by CVE-2026-10669?

CVE-2026-10669 specifically affects the Zephyr Xtensa MPU implementation in the file arch/xtensa/core/mpu.c.

5

Which systems are vulnerable to CVE-2026-10669?

Systems built with CONFIG_XTENSA_MPU and CONFIG_USERSPACE on Xtensa SoCs are vulnerable to CVE-2026-10669.

Contact

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