PCI Rescan Race Condition in Linux Kernel

Executive Summary

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel involves a race condition in the PCI subsystem for Mediatek devices. The issue occurs when the root bus is stopped and removed without proper synchronization, potentially leading to use-after-free errors or system crashes due to concurrent operations like rescans or hotplug events.

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Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's PCI subsystem and may not have direct network detection methods. To check if your system is affected, verify the kernel version and whether the vulnerable code path exists. Use commands like 'uname -a' to check the kernel version and 'dmesg | grep pci' to inspect PCI-related logs for errors.

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Impact Analysis

If exploited, this flaw could cause system instability, crashes, or unexpected behavior on Linux systems using Mediatek PCI hardware. Users might experience sudden reboots, data corruption, or denial of service if the race condition is triggered.

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Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest kernel update from your Linux distribution to resolve this issue. If immediate patching is not possible, avoid triggering PCI rescan or hotplug operations via sysfs until the update is applied. Monitor system stability and PCI-related logs for signs of race conditions.

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