CVE-2026-90222: nfc: pn533: hold a reference to the request skb during send_frame

Severity: unknown
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.2% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-09-17 · updated 2026-10-19

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfc: pn533: hold a reference to the request skb during send_frame __pn533_send_async() publishes the command and then calls dev->phy_ops->send_frame(). Once dev->cmd is set, an incoming frame can be matched to this command: the I2C threaded IRQ runs pn533_recv_frame(), which queues cmd_complete_work, and pn533_send_async_complete() frees cmd->req with consume_skb(). On the I2C transport, pn533_i2c_send_frame() still dereferences the same skb after i2c_master_send() returns, so a completion that races the send can free the skb while the transport is still using it. The request skb is owned by the command object and may be freed by command completion at any time after dev->cmd is published, so the transport send path must not assume it stays alive. Hold a temporary reference to the request skb across the send_frame() call so the transport always sees a live skb even if completion races the send. Add a pn533_send_cmd_frame() helper and use it from all three send paths.

Affected products

Linux kernel: 4.7 — fixed in 7.3

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 7.3. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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