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CVE Record

CVE-2025-39923: dmaengine: qcom: bam_dma: Fix DT error handling for num-channels/ees

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: dmaengine: qcom: bam_dma: Fix DT error handling for num-channels/ees When we don't have a clock specified in the device tree, we have no way to ensure the BAM is on. This is often the case for remotely-controlled or remotely-powered BAM instances. In this case, we need to read num-channels from the DT to have all the necessary information to complete probing. However, at the moment invalid device trees without clock and without num-channels still continue probing, because the error handling is missing return statements. The driver will then later try to read the number of channels from the registers. This is unsafe, because it relies on boot firmware and lucky timing to succeed. Unfortunately, the lack of proper error handling here has been abused for several Qualcomm SoCs upstream, causing early boot crashes in several situations [1, 2]. Avoid these early crashes by erroring out when any of the required DT properties are missing. Note that this will break some of the existing DTs upstream (mainly BAM instances related to the crypto engine). However, clearly these DTs have never been tested properly, since the error in the kernel log was just ignored. It's safer to disable the crypto engine for these broken DTBs. [1]: https://lore.kernel.org/r/CY01EKQVWE36.B9X5TDXAREPF@fairphone.com/ [2]: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20230626145959.646747-1-krzysztof.kozlowski@linaro.org/

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue can make certain Qualcomm-based systems crash during early boot when their device tree is incomplete. The driver continues probing when required hardware description properties are missing, then may touch hardware registers unsafely. The evidence points to reliability and availability risk, not remote compromise.

Executive priority

Prioritize for Qualcomm-based embedded, mobile, or appliance fleets where a failed boot affects service availability. It is lower priority for conventional server fleets without this hardware. Treat as a platform stability fix unless vendor guidance adds stronger risk signals.

Technical view

The Qualcomm BAM DMA driver mishandles device-tree errors for required properties such as num-channels and ees when no clock is specified. Broken DTBs can let probing continue and later read channel data from registers, relying on firmware state and timing. The kernel fix fails probing when required properties are absent.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using Qualcomm SoCs with the qcom bam_dma driver and device trees missing required BAM properties. General Linux servers without this hardware path are unlikely to be affected.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing, active exploitation, public exploit code, or remote attackability. It documents upstream abuse of the missing checks causing early boot crashes on several Qualcomm SoCs.

Researcher notes

The available record lacks CVSS, CWE, and detailed package mapping. The affected-version data is broad and commit-based, so validation should use kernel commit presence and platform DTB review rather than product-name assumptions.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check vendor or distribution advisories for the exact fixed package version.
  • Audit affected Qualcomm device trees for required BAM properties.
  • Disable affected crypto-engine BAM instances if vendor guidance recommends it.
  • Avoid deploying untested DTBs on affected Qualcomm platforms.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernels on Qualcomm-based devices.
  • Confirm whether qcom bam_dma is built or loaded.
  • Review DTBs for BAM nodes lacking clock and required properties.
  • Check boot logs for BAM DMA probe errors or early crashes.
  • Verify the running kernel includes the relevant stable commit.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
11

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
10Source links

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux48d163b1aa6e7f650c0b7a4f9c61c387a6def868, 48d163b1aa6e7f650c0b7a4f9c61c387a6def868, 48d163b1aa6e7f650c0b7a4f9c61c387a6def868, 48d163b1aa6e7f650c0b7a4f9c61c387a6def868, 48d163b1aa6e7f650c0b7a4f9c61c387a6def868, 48d163b1aa6e7f650c0b7a4f9c61c387a6def868, 48d163b1aa6e7f650c0b7a4f9c61c387a6def868, 48d163b1aa6e7f650c0b7a4f9c61c387a6def868, cecf8a69042b3a54cb843223756c10ee8a8665e3, 909474cd384cb206f33461fbd18089cf170533f8, 5e0986f7caf17d7b1acd2092975360bf8e88a57d, 4.9.104, 4.14.45, 4.16.13unaffected
LinuxLinux4.17, 0, 5.4.300, 5.10.245, 5.15.194, 6.1.153, 6.6.107, 6.12.48, 6.16.8, 6.17affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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