UBUNTU-CVE-2026-74463: Medium severity ubuntu/linux-aws vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: i2c: jz4780: Cache host clock rate at probe to prevent CCF preparelock deadlock Fix a severe AB/BA deadlock between the Common Clock Framework (CCF) and the I2C adapter lock, which triggers when an I2C-controlled clock generator client (like the Si5351) is registered or modified under the CCF. During an i2c client clock (generator) frequency change, the CCF acquires its global 'preparelock' mutex and the driver calls i2ctransfer() to update the client's chip registers, stalling for the adapter's I2C bus lock. Concurrently, an independent, parallel transfer on the same bus (e.g., a GPIO expander handling LEDs) can hold the I2C adapter lock. Inside this parallel transfer path, jz4780i2csetspeed() calls clkgetrate() on the host controller's input clock to calculate bus timings. This call attempts to acquire the blocked CCF 'preparelock', creating a circular dependency that freezes the system. The jz4780 host controller clock itself is static and never changes at runtime. However, calling clkgetrate() inside the active transfer path introduces an unnecessary dependency on the CCF internal locks. Eliminate this synchronous clkgetrate() call from the active transfer path by caching the static host peripheral clock rate once - inside the private jz4780i2c structure during jz4780i2cprobe(). Update jz4780i2csetspeed() to use this cached value, safely decoupling active I2C transactions from the CCF internal locks without any risk of stale timings. Assisted-by web based Google AI (pinpointing the bug and writing the message).
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
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ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.128~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-198.208~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.118~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-195.205~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-198.208 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1123.132 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1122.131 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.128 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1113.119 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gkeopto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1100.108 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-intel-iotgto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.118 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-kvmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.114 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-lowlatencyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-195.205 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidiato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.113 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1080.84 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-bluefieldto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1101.103 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.111 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1116.125 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-aws-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1123.132+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-198.208+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.128+fips1 - Configuration
Cache the static host controller input-clock rate in the private jz4780_i2c structure during probe, and use the cached value in jz4780_i2c_set_speed() instead of calling clk_get_rate() during active I2C transfers.
Linux kernel jz4780 I2C driver host peripheral clock rate used by jz4780_i2c_set_speed() = cached once during jz4780_i2c_probe()
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Which systems are exposed to this deadlock?
Systems using the jz4780 I2C controller are exposed when the same I2C bus has an I2C-controlled clock generator client, such as an Si5351, and another device capable of independent parallel transfers, such as a GPIO expander.
What activity is required to trigger the issue?
A clock-generator frequency change must occur while another transfer on the same I2C bus holds the adapter lock. The parallel transfer then attempts to obtain the Common Clock Framework lock while the clock-change path is waiting for the I2C lock, creating a circular wait.
What is the operational impact?
The circular dependency freezes the system. The issue is a deadlock between the Common Clock Framework prepare_lock mutex and the I2C adapter bus lock.
What can be done if the resolved update cannot be deployed immediately?
Avoid concurrent I2C clock-generator frequency changes and other transfers on the same affected bus where possible. In particular, avoid performing clock changes while devices such as GPIO expanders are handling parallel I2C activity.