media: mediatek: vcodec: fix use-after-free in encoder release path
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: mediatek: vcodec: fix use-after-free in encoder release path The fops_vcodec_release() function frees the context structure (ctx) without first cancelling any pending or running work in ctx->encode_work. This creates a race window where the workqueue handler (mtk_venc_worker) may still be accessing the context memory after it has been freed. Race condition: CPU 0 (release path) CPU 1 (workqueue) --------------------- ------------------ fops_vcodec_release() v4l2_m2m_ctx_release() v4l2_m2m_cancel_job() // waits for m2m job "done" mtk_venc_worker() v4l2_m2m_job_finish() // m2m job "done" // BUT worker still running! // post-job_finish access: other ctx dereferences // UAF if ctx already freed // returns (job "done") kfree(ctx) // ctx freed Root cause: The v4l2_m2m_ctx_release() only waits for the m2m job lifecycle (via TRANS_RUNNING flag), not the workqueue lifecycle. After v4l2_m2m_job_finish() is called, the m2m framework considers the job complete and v4l2_m2m_ctx_release() returns, but the worker function continues executing and may still access ctx. The work is queued during encode operations via: queue_work(ctx->dev->encode_workqueue, &ctx->encode_work) The worker function accesses ctx->m2m_ctx, ctx->dev, and other ctx fields even after calling v4l2_m2m_job_finish(). This vulnerability was confirmed with KASAN by running an instrumented test module that widens the post-job_finish race window. KASAN detected: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in mtk_venc_worker+0x159/0x180 Read of size 4 at addr ffff88800326e000 by task kworker/u8:0/12 Workqueue: mtk_vcodec_enc_wq mtk_venc_worker Allocated by task 47: __kasan_kmalloc+0x7f/0x90 fops_vcodec_open+0x85/0x1a0 Freed by task 47: __kasan_slab_free+0x43/0x70 kfree+0xee/0x3a0 fops_vcodec_release+0xb7/0x190 Fix this by calling cancel_work_sync(&ctx->encode_work) before kfree(ctx). This ensures the workqueue handler is both cancelled (if pending) and synchronized (waits for any running handler to complete) before the context is freed. Placement rationale: The fix is placed after v4l2_ctrl_handler_free() and before list_del_init(&ctx->list). At this point, all m2m operations are done (v4l2_m2m_ctx_release() has returned), and we need to ensure the workqueue is synchronized before removing ctx from the list and freeing it. Note: The open error path does NOT need cancel_work_sync() because INIT_WORK() only initializes the work structure - it does not schedule it. Work is only scheduled later during device_run() operations.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.6 and later | 6.6.136, 6.12.83, 6.18.24, 6.19.14, 7.0.1, 7.1 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 6.6 and later Fixed in 6.6.136, 6.12.83, 6.18.24, 6.19.14, 7.0.1, 7.1 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 6.6.136; 6.12 to before 6.12.83; 6.13 to before 6.18.24; 6.19 to before 6.19.14; 7.0 to before 7.0.1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 6.6.136; 6.12 to before 6.12.83; 6.13 to before 6.18.24; 6.19 to before 6.19.14; 7.0 to before 7.0.1 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.6.136, 6.12.83, 6.18.24, 6.19.14, 7.0.1, 7.1
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 5 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-31584
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-5g36-g7f3-8q34
- 2026-10-20 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Patch 6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9a9bdaf9dc42ccca50e53f82165292f74a365c11
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8a55913552aed45108525d1851c65e1db0cc25b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f99353cd0e9f58bf17889049137b8d65fb44ebf1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/93d9a58961a9e09306857e999b3ee76aa4be67f0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f1692337c6fa26e04f89b22a4d84bf5b7ada50d1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/76e35091ffc722ba39b303e48bc5d08abb59dd56
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Sources
- CVE-2026-31584 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-31584 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-5g36-g7f3-8q34 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-31584 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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