In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

i2c: imx: fix locked bus on SMBus block-read of 0 (atomic)

SMBus 3.1 6.5.7 allows a Block Read byte count of 0, but the atomic
(polling) path rejects it as -EPROTO. Worse, it returns without a
NACK+STOP: the next receive cycle has already started, so the target
keeps holding SDA and the bus stays stuck until a power cycle for
this i2c controller.

Reading I2DR to obtain the count likewise arms the next byte on the
count > I2C_SMBUS_BLOCK_MAX path, which also returned -EPROTO directly
and left the bus held.

Handle both: NACK the in-flight dummy byte (TXAK) and extend msgs->len so
the existing last-byte handling emits STOP; the dummy byte is discarded.
A count of 0 is a valid empty block read; a count above
I2C_SMBUS_BLOCK_MAX is still reported as -EPROTO, but only after the bus
has been released.

The interrupt-driven path has the same flaw from a later commit and is
fixed separately, as it carries a different Fixes: tag and stable range.

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History

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 09:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-404

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: i2c: imx: fix locked bus on SMBus block-read of 0 (atomic) SMBus 3.1 6.5.7 allows a Block Read byte count of 0, but the atomic (polling) path rejects it as -EPROTO. Worse, it returns without a NACK+STOP: the next receive cycle has already started, so the target keeps holding SDA and the bus stays stuck until a power cycle for this i2c controller. Reading I2DR to obtain the count likewise arms the next byte on the count > I2C_SMBUS_BLOCK_MAX path, which also returned -EPROTO directly and left the bus held. Handle both: NACK the in-flight dummy byte (TXAK) and extend msgs->len so the existing last-byte handling emits STOP; the dummy byte is discarded. A count of 0 is a valid empty block read; a count above I2C_SMBUS_BLOCK_MAX is still reported as -EPROTO, but only after the bus has been released. The interrupt-driven path has the same flaw from a later commit and is fixed separately, as it carries a different Fixes: tag and stable range.
Title i2c: imx: fix locked bus on SMBus block-read of 0 (atomic)
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-15T05:53:15.489Z

Reserved: 2026-08-09T03:40:39.908Z

Link: CVE-2026-72142

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-15T06:21:31.827

Modified: 2026-08-15T06:21:31.827

Link: CVE-2026-72142

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-15T09:30:04Z

Weaknesses