CVE-2026-97916: accel/ivpu: Validate firmware log buffer metadata

Published Sep 25, 2026
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

accel/ivpu: Validate firmware log buffer metadata

The tracing log headers parsed by fwlogprintbuffer() reside in DMA-shared BOs that the NPU firmware can write to.

fwlogfrombo() validated log->headersize and log->size, but fwlogprintbuffer() re-read those same fields from shared memory afterwards, allowing a TOCTOU where firmware changes them between the check and the use, and making the host dereference out-of-bounds addresses while printing logs.

Snapshot the validated values once with READONCE() and pass them down explicitly in a new struct ivpufwlogdesc instead of re-reading them from the shared struct.

Affected Software

1 affected component
Linux Linux kernel

Event History

Sep 25, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·10:22 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·10:22 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·11:17 AM
Description

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What conditions are required to trigger the out-of-bounds access?

The issue requires NPU firmware to modify tracing log header metadata in DMA-shared buffer objects after the host validates the metadata but before it uses the fields again while printing logs. The affected path is firmware log parsing and printing.

2

What is the practical impact of the race?

A successful race can cause the host to dereference out-of-bounds addresses while printing firmware logs. The description does not state an impact beyond this out-of-bounds access.

3

How can I tell whether the fix is present?

The fix snapshots validated log header size and buffer size values with READ_ONCE() and passes them to the printing path in an ivpu_fw_log_desc structure, rather than re-reading those fields from the DMA-shared log header. The referenced stable commits can be used to verify whether this change is included.

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