Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/i915/dmc: Fix an unlikely NULL pointer deference at probe
intel_dmc_update_dc6_allowed_count() oopses when DMC hasn't been
initialized, and dmc is thus NULL.
That would be the case when the call path is
intel_power_domains_init_hw() -> {skl,bxt,icl}_display_core_init() ->
gen9_set_dc_state() -> intel_dmc_update_dc6_allowed_count(), as
intel_power_domains_init_hw() is called *before* intel_dmc_init().
However, gen9_set_dc_state() calls intel_dmc_update_dc6_allowed_count()
conditionally, depending on the current and target DC states. At probe,
the target is disabled, but if DC6 is enabled, the function is called,
and an oops follows. Apparently it's quite unlikely that DC6 is enabled
at probe, as we haven't seen this failure mode before.
It is also strange to have DC6 enabled at boot, since that would require
the DMC firmware (loaded by BIOS); the BIOS loading the DMC firmware and
the driver stopping / reprogramming the firmware is a poorly specified
sequence and as such unlikely an intentional BIOS behaviour. It's more
likely that BIOS is leaving an unintentionally enabled DC6 HW state
behind (without actually loading the required DMC firmware for this).
The tracking of the DC6 allowed counter only works if starting /
stopping the counter depends on the _SW_ DC6 state vs. the current _HW_
DC6 state (since stopping the counter requires the DC5 counter captured
when the counter was started). Thus, using the HW DC6 state is incorrect
and it also leads to the above oops. Fix both issues by using the SW DC6
state for the tracking.
This is v2 of the fix originally sent by Jani, updated based on the
first Link: discussion below.
(cherry picked from commit 2344b93af8eb5da5d496b4e0529d35f0f559eaf0)
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.16 | 6.18.20 |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 6.19.10-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux +8 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +23 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.14 +1 | No fix yet | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | kernel-livepatch-6.18.20-20.229 | 1:1.0-0.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-1596 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf6.18 +14 | 1:6.18.20-20.229.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-1596 |
Advisories 2
- WID-SEC-2026-0985 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 12, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-1596 Important: kernel6.18 security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Jun 16, 2026