Bluetooth: hci_uart: fix UAFs and race conditions in close and init paths
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 12 fixed, 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: hci_uart: fix UAFs and race conditions in close and init paths Vulnerabilities leading to Use-After-Free (UAF) and Null Pointer Dereference (NPD) conditions were observed in the lifecycle management of hci_uart. The primary issue arises because the workqueues (init_ready and write_work) are only flushed/cancelled if the HCI_UART_PROTO_READY flag is set during TTY close. If a hangup occurs before setup completes, hci_uart_tty_close() skips the teardown of these workqueues and proceeds to free the `hu` struct. When the scheduled work executes later, it blindly dereferences the freed `hu` struct. Furthermore, several data races and UAFs were identified in the teardown sequence: 1. Calling hci_uart_flush() from hci_uart_close() without effectively disabling write_work causes a race condition where both can concurrently double-free hu->tx_skb. This happens because protocol timers can concurrently invoke hci_uart_tx_wakeup() and requeue write_work. 2. Calling hci_free_dev(hdev) before hu->proto->close(hu) causes a UAF when vendor specific protocol close callbacks dereference hu->hdev. 3. In the initialization error paths, failing to take the proto_lock write lock before clearing PROTO_READY leads to races with active readers. Additionally, hci_uart_tty_receive() accesses hu->hdev outside the read lock, leading to UAFs if the initialization error path frees hdev concurrently. Fix these synchronization and lifecycle issues by: 1. Re-ordering hci_uart_tty_close() to clear HCI_UART_PROTO_READY first, followed immediately by a cancel_work_sync(&hu->write_work). Clearing the flag locks out concurrent protocol timers from successfully invoking hci_uart_tx_wakeup(), effectively rendering the cancellation permanent and preventing the tx_skb double-free. 2. Note: Clearing PROTO_READY early causes hci_uart_close() to skip hu->proto->flush(). This is perfectly safe in the tty_close path because hu->proto->close() executes shortly after, which intrinsically purges all protocol SKB queues and tears down the state. 3. Relocating hu->proto->close(hu) strictly prior to hci_free_dev(hdev) across all close and error paths to prevent vendor-level UAFs. 4. Moving the hdev->stat.byte_rx increment in hci_uart_tty_receive() inside the proto_lock read-side critical section to safely synchronize with device unregistration. 5. Adding cancel_work_sync(&hu->write_work) to hci_uart_close() to safely flush the workqueue before hci_uart_flush() is invoked via the HCI core. 6. Utilizing cancel_work_sync() instead of disable_work_sync() across all paths to prevent permanently breaking user-space retry capabilities.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 4.14.203 to before 4.15; 4.19.153 to before 4.20; 5.4.73 to before 5.5; 5.8.17 to before 5.9; 5.9.2 to before 5.10 | 4.15, 4.20, 5.5, 5.9, 5.10 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 5.10 and later | 5.10.258, 5.15.209, 6.1.175, 6.6.142, 6.12.92, 6.18.34, 7.0.11, 7.1 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.14.203 to before 4.15; 4.19.153 to before 4.20; 5.4.73 to before 5.5; 5.8.17 to before 5.9; 5.9.2 to before 5.10 Fixed in 4.15, 4.20, 5.5, 5.9, 5.10 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.10 and later Fixed in 5.10.258, 5.15.209, 6.1.175, 6.6.142, 6.12.92, 6.18.34, 7.0.11, 7.1 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.14.203 to before 4.15; 4.19.153 to before 4.20; 5.4.73 to before 5.5; 5.8.17 to before 5.9; 5.9.2 to before 5.10.258; 5.11 to before 5.15.209; 5.16 to before 6.1.175; 6.2 to before 6.6.142; 6.7 to before 6.12.92; 6.13 to before 6.18.34; 6.19 to before 7.0.11 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.14.203 to before 4.15; 4.19.153 to before 4.20; 5.4.73 to before 5.5; 5.8.17 to before 5.9; 5.9.2 to before 5.10.258; 5.11 to before 5.15.209; 5.16 to before 6.1.175; 6.2 to before 6.6.142; 6.7 to before 6.12.92; 6.13 to before 6.18.34; 6.19 to before 7.0.11 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 4.15, 4.20, 5.5, 5.9, 5.10
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.258, 5.15.209, 6.1.175, 6.6.142, 6.12.92, 6.18.34, 7.0.11, 7.1
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2026:76739 Released 2026-10-08 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8, libperf-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-687.55.1.el9_8 +9
- RHSA-2026:76738 Released 2026-10-08 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- 10Base-SMTV kernel-modules-internal-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2, libperf-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Hidden (v. 10) kernel-modules-internal-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-211.63.1.el10_2 +9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| 10Base-SMTV | Fixed | RHSA-2026:76738 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:76738 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:76739 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:76738 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:76739 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:76738 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:76739 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Hidden (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:76738 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:76738 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:76739 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:76738 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:76739 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-46275
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mpvf-w98g-3c74
- 2026-10-09 Fix available: RHSA-2026:76739 · Red Hat
- 2026-10-09 Fix available: Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9), Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9), Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) +2 · Red Hat
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-19 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
- 2026-10-26 Fix available: RHSA-2026:76738 · Red Hat
- 2026-10-26 Fix available: 10Base-SMTV, Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10), Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) +4 · Red Hat
- 2026-11-06 CVSS score changed · Red Hat
References
Patch 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/78aad93e938f013d9272fe0ee168f27883afa95c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e2d19969c8d9198ecc3090bcd5312ecd503a3339
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c85cff648a2bc92322912db5f1727ad05afae7b6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9d20d48be2c4a071fb015eb09bda2cecd25daf34
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/81c7a3c22a0f2808cf4ae0b4908f59763b23606d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/192cb0f1ca706d9a1bc36ae0ad5f666d1e4fd894
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7338031946bd06f6dff149e67b60c4cd083bfea8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c1bb9336ae6b54a5f6a353c4bd4ed9a4307e429b
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Sources
- CVE-2026-46275 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-46275 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mpvf-w98g-3c74 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-46275 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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