In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
PCI/proc: Use file_ns_capable() when checking config space read access
proc_bus_pci_read() decides how much of the config space is readable based
on capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN), which checks the credentials of the task calling
read(), not the credentials of the process that opened the file.
The sysfs equivalent, pci_read_config(), has checked the credentials of the
opening process since commit de139a339395 ("pci: check caps from sysfs file
open to read device dependent config space"), so a privileged process can
open the config space file and pass the file descriptor to an unprivileged
process (for example, a process running a KVM guest with an assigned
device), which can then read the entire config space. The check was
subsequently routed through the LSM framework in commit 47970b1b2aa6 ("pci:
use security_capable() when checking capablities during config space read")
and converted to the dedicated helper in commit ab0fa82b2df9 ("pci-sysfs:
use proper file capability helper function").
Thus, the two interfaces check the same capability against different
credentials. Checking the credentials of the task calling read() makes the
outcome depend on who reads rather than who opened, so the restriction is
bypassed whenever a more privileged process reads through the descriptor.
Checking the credentials recorded in file->f_cred settles the decision at
open() time and ties it to the file, where it cannot change with the
caller.
Use file_ns_capable() to check CAP_SYS_ADMIN against the credentials in
effect when the file was opened, bringing the procfs interface in line with
the sysfs behaviour.
As a result, a file descriptor opened by a privileged process and passed to
an unprivileged one now allows the entire config space to be read through
procfs, matching sysfs.
PCI/proc: Use file_ns_capable() when checking config space read access
proc_bus_pci_read() decides how much of the config space is readable based
on capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN), which checks the credentials of the task calling
read(), not the credentials of the process that opened the file.
The sysfs equivalent, pci_read_config(), has checked the credentials of the
opening process since commit de139a339395 ("pci: check caps from sysfs file
open to read device dependent config space"), so a privileged process can
open the config space file and pass the file descriptor to an unprivileged
process (for example, a process running a KVM guest with an assigned
device), which can then read the entire config space. The check was
subsequently routed through the LSM framework in commit 47970b1b2aa6 ("pci:
use security_capable() when checking capablities during config space read")
and converted to the dedicated helper in commit ab0fa82b2df9 ("pci-sysfs:
use proper file capability helper function").
Thus, the two interfaces check the same capability against different
credentials. Checking the credentials of the task calling read() makes the
outcome depend on who reads rather than who opened, so the restriction is
bypassed whenever a more privileged process reads through the descriptor.
Checking the credentials recorded in file->f_cred settles the decision at
open() time and ties it to the file, where it cannot change with the
caller.
Use file_ns_capable() to check CAP_SYS_ADMIN against the credentials in
effect when the file was opened, bringing the procfs interface in line with
the sysfs behaviour.
As a result, a file descriptor opened by a privileged process and passed to
an unprivileged one now allows the entire config space to be read through
procfs, matching sysfs.
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | unaffected |
|
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| Linux | Linux | affected |
|
No data.
No data.
No data.
Advisories
No advisories yet.
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: PCI/proc: Use file_ns_capable() when checking config space read access proc_bus_pci_read() decides how much of the config space is readable based on capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN), which checks the credentials of the task calling read(), not the credentials of the process that opened the file. The sysfs equivalent, pci_read_config(), has checked the credentials of the opening process since commit de139a339395 ("pci: check caps from sysfs file open to read device dependent config space"), so a privileged process can open the config space file and pass the file descriptor to an unprivileged process (for example, a process running a KVM guest with an assigned device), which can then read the entire config space. The check was subsequently routed through the LSM framework in commit 47970b1b2aa6 ("pci: use security_capable() when checking capablities during config space read") and converted to the dedicated helper in commit ab0fa82b2df9 ("pci-sysfs: use proper file capability helper function"). Thus, the two interfaces check the same capability against different credentials. Checking the credentials of the task calling read() makes the outcome depend on who reads rather than who opened, so the restriction is bypassed whenever a more privileged process reads through the descriptor. Checking the credentials recorded in file->f_cred settles the decision at open() time and ties it to the file, where it cannot change with the caller. Use file_ns_capable() to check CAP_SYS_ADMIN against the credentials in effect when the file was opened, bringing the procfs interface in line with the sysfs behaviour. As a result, a file descriptor opened by a privileged process and passed to an unprivileged one now allows the entire config space to be read through procfs, matching sysfs. | |
| Title | PCI/proc: Use file_ns_capable() when checking config space read access | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
|
Projects
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MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-09-24T15:10:29.326Z
Reserved: 2026-09-17T16:02:15.093Z
Link: CVE-2026-93206
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-09-24T16:17:14.670
Modified: 2026-09-24T16:17:14.670
Link: CVE-2026-93206
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.