CVE-2026-63876
Received Received - Intake

Kernel Crash in Linux Serial Driver Due to Null Pointer Dereference

Publication date: 2026-07-19

Last updated on: 2026-07-19

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: serial: zs: Convert to use a platform device Prevent a crash from happening as the first serial port is initialised: Console: switching to mono frame buffer device 160x64 fb0: PMAG-AA frame buffer device at tc0 DECstation Z85C30 serial driver version 0.10 CPU 0 Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address 0000002c, epc == 803ab00c, ra == 803aafe0 Oops[#1]: CPU: 0 PID: 1 Comm: swapper Not tainted 6.4.0-rc3-00031-g84a9582fd203-dirty #57 $ 0 : 00000000 10012c00 803aaeb0 00000000 $ 4 : 80e12f60 80e12f50 80e12f58 81000030 $ 8 : 00000000 805ff37c 00000000 33433538 $12 : 65732030 00000006 80c2915d 6c616972 $16 : 80e12f00 807b7630 00000000 00000000 $20 : 00000004 00000348 000001a0 807623b8 $24 : 00000018 00000000 $28 : 80c24000 80c25d60 8078b148 803aafe0 Hi : 00000000 Lo : 00000000 epc : 803ab00c serial_base_ctrl_add+0x78/0xf4 ra : 803aafe0 serial_base_ctrl_add+0x4c/0xf4 Status: 10012c03 KERNEL EXL IE Cause : 00000008 (ExcCode 02) BadVA : 0000002c PrId : 00000440 (R4400SC) Modules linked in: Process swapper (pid: 1, threadinfo=(ptrval), task=(ptrval), tls=00000000) Stack : 80760000 00000cc0 00400044 00400040 803aa02c 80d61ab8 00000000 807b7630 80760000 807623b8 807b7628 803aa644 80386998 00000000 80e17780 80220f68 80e17780 80d61ab8 80c17d80 80e17780 80e17780 8063c798 80e17780 80383fa0 00000010 80e17780 00000000 80386998 807a0000 00000000 00400040 8038f848 807623b8 80d61ab8 00000004 80e17780 00000000 803a68e4 80c25e2c 803bb884 ... Call Trace: [<803ab00c>] serial_base_ctrl_add+0x78/0xf4 [<803aa644>] serial_core_register_port+0x174/0x69c [<8077e9ac>] zs_init+0xc8/0xfc [<800404d4>] do_one_initcall+0x40/0x2ac [<8076cecc>] kernel_init_freeable+0x1e4/0x270 [<80605bec>] kernel_init+0x20/0x108 [<800431e8>] ret_from_kernel_thread+0x14/0x1c Code: 2442aeb0 ae120024 ae0200d0 <8c67002c> 50e00001 8c670000 3c06806e 3c05806e afb30010 ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- (report at the offending commit) -- where a pointer is dereferenced that has been derived from a null pointer to the port's parent device. Since no device is available with legacy probing and it's not anymore a preferable way to discover devices anyway, switch the driver to using a platform device and use it as the port's parent device. Update resource handling accordingly and only request the actual span of addresses used within the slot, which will have had its resource already requested by generic platform device code. Use platform_driver_probe() not just because SCC devices are fixed with solder on board and not straightforward to remove, but foremost because the associated TTY's major device number is the same as used by the dz driver and the first driver to claim it will prevent the other one from using it. Either one DZ device or some SCC devices will be present in a given system but never both at a time, and therefore we want the major device number to be claimed by the first driver to actually successfully bind to its device and platform_driver_probe() is a way to fulfil that. An unfortunate consequence of the switch to a platform device is we now hand the console over from the bootconsole much later in the bootstrap. The firmware console handler appears good enough though to work so late and in particular with interrupts enabled. Since there is one way only remaining to reach zs_reset() now, remove the port initialisation marker as no longer needed and go through the channel reset unconditionally.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-07-19
Last Modified
2026-07-19
Generated
2026-07-20
AI Q&A
2026-07-19
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-63876
EUVD
EUVD-2026-45761

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux kernel 6.4.0-rc3-00031-g84a9582fd203-dirty

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Exploitability

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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel involves a crash occurring when the first serial port is initialized due to a null pointer dereference. The issue arises because the driver previously used legacy probing, which no longer provides a valid parent device for the port. The fix converts the driver to use a platform device as the parent, preventing the crash by ensuring proper resource handling and device discovery.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's serial driver (zs) and may cause a kernel crash during initialization. Detection requires checking kernel logs for oops or crash messages related to serial port initialization, particularly during boot or when loading the zs driver. Look for errors like 'Unable to handle kernel paging request' or stack traces involving serial_base_ctrl_add.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can cause system crashes when initializing the first serial port, leading to kernel panics and potential denial of service. Systems relying on serial ports for console output or communication may become unstable or unresponsive during boot or operation.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability does not directly affect compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, or similar standards as it is a Linux kernel driver issue related to serial port initialization causing a crash. No data exposure or privacy impact is indicated.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the kernel patch that converts the zs driver to use a platform device. Update to a kernel version that includes this fix. Avoid using legacy device probing methods for this driver. Monitor system logs for serial port initialization errors after applying changes.

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