In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
cxl/region: Fix null pointer dereference for resetting decoder
Not all decoders have a reset callback.
The CXL specification allows a host bridge with a single root port to have no explicit HDM decoders. Currently the region driver assumes there are none. As such the CXL core creates a special pass through decoder instance without a commit/reset callback.
Prior to this patch, the ->reset() callback was called unconditionally when calling cxl_region_decode_reset. Thus a configuration with 1 Host Bridge, 1 Root Port, and one directly attached CXL type 3 device or multiple CXL type 3 devices attached to downstream ports of a switch can cause a null pointer dereference.
Before the fix, a kernel crash was observed when we destroy the region, and a pass through decoder is reset.
The issue can be reproduced as below, 1) create a region with a CXL setup which includes a HB with a single root port under which a memdev is attached directly. 2) destroy the region with cxl destroy-region regionX -f.
| Product | Vendor Advisory | Solution File | Added | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | — | Upgrade linux | Jul 30, 2024 | May 21, 2024 |
| Redhat_linux | — | No solution exists | Jul 9, 2025 | May 21, 2024 |
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