In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
HID: appletb-kbd: fix UAF in inactivity-timer cleanup path
Commit 38224c472a03 ("HID: appletb-kbd: fix slab use-after-free bug in
appletb_kbd_probe") added timer_delete_sync(&kbd->inactivity_timer) to
both the probe close_hw error path and appletb_kbd_remove(), but the
way it was wired in left the inactivity timer reachable during driver
tear-down via two distinct windows.
Window A -- put_device() before timer_delete_sync():
put_device(&kbd->backlight_dev->dev);
timer_delete_sync(&kbd->inactivity_timer);
The inactivity_timer softirq reads kbd->backlight_dev and calls
backlight_device_set_brightness() -> mutex_lock(&ops_lock). If a
concurrent hid_appletb_bl unbind drops the last devm reference
between these two calls, the backlight_device is freed and the
mutex_lock() touches freed memory.
Window B -- backlight cleanup before hid_hw_stop():
if (kbd->backlight_dev) {
timer_delete_sync(...);
put_device(...);
}
hid_hw_close(hdev);
hid_hw_stop(hdev);
Even after Window A is closed, hid_hw_close()/hid_hw_stop() still run
afterwards, so a late ".event" callback from the HID core (USB URB
completion on real Apple hardware) can arrive after
timer_delete_sync() drained the softirq but before put_device() drops
the reference. That callback reaches reset_inactivity_timer(), which
calls mod_timer() and re-arms the timer. The freshly re-armed timer
can then fire on the about-to-be-freed backlight_device.
Both windows produce the same KASAN slab-use-after-free:
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in __mutex_lock+0x1aab/0x21c0
Read of size 8 at addr ffff88803ee9a108 by task swapper/0/0
Call Trace:
<IRQ>
__mutex_lock
backlight_device_set_brightness
appletb_inactivity_timer
call_timer_fn
run_timer_softirq
handle_softirqs
Allocated by task N:
devm_backlight_device_register
appletb_bl_probe
Freed by task M:
(concurrent hid_appletb_bl unbind path)
Close both windows at once by reworking the tear-down in
appletb_kbd_remove() and in the probe close_hw error path so that
1) hid_hw_close()/hid_hw_stop() run before the backlight cleanup,
guaranteeing no further .event callback can fire and re-arm the
timer, and
2) inside the "if (kbd->backlight_dev)" block, timer_delete_sync()
runs before put_device(), so the softirq is drained before the
final reference is dropped.
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendors | Products |
|---|---|
| Linux |
|
No data.
No data.
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| Vendors | Products |
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References
History
Thu, 28 May 2026 13:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-416 |
Thu, 28 May 2026 10:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: HID: appletb-kbd: fix UAF in inactivity-timer cleanup path Commit 38224c472a03 ("HID: appletb-kbd: fix slab use-after-free bug in appletb_kbd_probe") added timer_delete_sync(&kbd->inactivity_timer) to both the probe close_hw error path and appletb_kbd_remove(), but the way it was wired in left the inactivity timer reachable during driver tear-down via two distinct windows. Window A -- put_device() before timer_delete_sync(): put_device(&kbd->backlight_dev->dev); timer_delete_sync(&kbd->inactivity_timer); The inactivity_timer softirq reads kbd->backlight_dev and calls backlight_device_set_brightness() -> mutex_lock(&ops_lock). If a concurrent hid_appletb_bl unbind drops the last devm reference between these two calls, the backlight_device is freed and the mutex_lock() touches freed memory. Window B -- backlight cleanup before hid_hw_stop(): if (kbd->backlight_dev) { timer_delete_sync(...); put_device(...); } hid_hw_close(hdev); hid_hw_stop(hdev); Even after Window A is closed, hid_hw_close()/hid_hw_stop() still run afterwards, so a late ".event" callback from the HID core (USB URB completion on real Apple hardware) can arrive after timer_delete_sync() drained the softirq but before put_device() drops the reference. That callback reaches reset_inactivity_timer(), which calls mod_timer() and re-arms the timer. The freshly re-armed timer can then fire on the about-to-be-freed backlight_device. Both windows produce the same KASAN slab-use-after-free: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in __mutex_lock+0x1aab/0x21c0 Read of size 8 at addr ffff88803ee9a108 by task swapper/0/0 Call Trace: <IRQ> __mutex_lock backlight_device_set_brightness appletb_inactivity_timer call_timer_fn run_timer_softirq handle_softirqs Allocated by task N: devm_backlight_device_register appletb_bl_probe Freed by task M: (concurrent hid_appletb_bl unbind path) Close both windows at once by reworking the tear-down in appletb_kbd_remove() and in the probe close_hw error path so that 1) hid_hw_close()/hid_hw_stop() run before the backlight cleanup, guaranteeing no further .event callback can fire and re-arm the timer, and 2) inside the "if (kbd->backlight_dev)" block, timer_delete_sync() runs before put_device(), so the softirq is drained before the final reference is dropped. | |
| Title | HID: appletb-kbd: fix UAF in inactivity-timer cleanup path | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-05-28T09:40:30.429Z
Reserved: 2026-05-13T15:03:33.105Z
Link: CVE-2026-46213
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Awaiting Analysis
Published: 2026-05-28T10:16:36.947
Modified: 2026-05-28T13:44:01.663
Link: CVE-2026-46213
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
Updated: 2026-05-28T13:15:22Z