CVE-2026-53344
Description
A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's pinctrl: mcp23s08 driver. During the initialization of the regmap (register map) for the mcp23s08 component, an attempt to perform an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) read occurs before critical device parameters (mcp->dev and mcp->addr) are properly set. This premature access leads to a NULL pointer dereference, which can cause a system crash and result in a Denial of Service (DoS).
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
NULL pointer dereferences usually result in the failure of the process unless exception handling (on some platforms) is available and implemented. Even when exception handling is being used, it can still be very difficult to return the software to a safe state of operation.
Integrity,Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Read Memory; Modify Memory
In rare circumstances, when NULL is equivalent to the 0x0 memory address and privileged code can access it, then writing or reading memory is possible, which may lead to code execution.
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