CVE-2026-46001: hwmon: (pt5161l) Fix bugs in pt5161l_read_block_data()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
hwmon: (pt5161l) Fix bugs in pt5161lreadblockdata()
Fix two bugs in pt5161lreadblockdata():
1. Buffer overrun: The local buffer rbuf is declared as u8 rbuf[24], but i2csmbusreadblockdata() can return up to I2CSMBUSBLOCKMAX (32) bytes. The i2c-core copies the data into the caller's buffer before the return value can be checked, so the post-read length validation does not prevent a stack overrun if a device returns more than 24 bytes. Resize the buffer to I2CSMBUSBLOCKMAX.
2. Unexpected positive return on length mismatch: When all three retries are exhausted because the device returns data with an unexpected length, i2csmbusreadblockdata() returns a positive byte count. The function returns this directly, and callers treat any non-negative return as success, processing stale or incomplete buffer contents. Return -EIO when retries are exhausted with a positive return value, preserving the negative error code on I2C failure.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Operational
Apply the Linux kernel fix for hwmon (pt5161l) that corrects pt5161l_read_block_data(): resize the local buffer rbuf to I2C_SMBUS_BLOCK_MAX to prevent buffer overruns, and return -EIO when retries are exhausted with a positive byte count. Obtain and apply the upstream kernel patch or update your kernel to a release containing this fix, then rebuild and deploy the patched kernel.
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-46001?
CVE-2026-46001 has a high severity rating of 7.8 according to CVSS 3.1.
How do I fix CVE-2026-46001?
To fix CVE-2026-46001, update your Linux kernel to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched.
What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-46001?
CVE-2026-46001 is classified as a buffer overflow vulnerability.
Which software is affected by CVE-2026-46001?
CVE-2026-46001 affects the Linux kernel developed by The Linux Foundation.
What are the consequences of exploiting CVE-2026-46001?
Exploiting CVE-2026-46001 could lead to unauthorized access and manipulation of kernel memory.