CVE-2026-31726
What it is
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usb: gadget: uvc: fix NULL pointer dereference during unbind race Commit b81ac4395bbe ("usb: gadget: uvc: allow for application to cleanly shutdown") introduced two stages of synchronization waits totaling 1500ms in uvc_function_unbind() to prevent several types of kernel panics. However, this timing-based approach is insufficient during power management (PM) transitions. When the PM subsystem starts freezing user space processes, the wait_event_interruptible_timeout() is aborted early, which allows the unbind thread to proceed and nullify the gadget pointer (cdev->gadget = NULL): [ 814.123447][ T947] configfs-gadget.g1 gadget.0: uvc: uvc_function_unbind() [ 814.178583][ T3173] PM: suspend entry (deep) [ 814.192487][ T3173] Freezing user space processes [ 814.197668][ T947] configfs-gadget.g1 gadget.0: uvc: uvc_function_unbind no clean disconnect, wait for release When the PM subsystem resumes or aborts the suspend and tasks are restarted, the V4L2 release path is executed and attempts to access the already nullified gadget pointer, triggering a kernel panic: [ 814.292597][ C0] PM: pm_system_irq_wakeup: 479 triggered dhdpcie_host_wake [ 814.386727][ T3173] Restarting tasks ... [ 814.403522][ T4558] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000030 [ 814.404021][ T4558] pc : usb_gadget_deactivate+0x14/0xf4 [ 814.404031][ T4558] lr : usb_function_deactivate+0x54/0x94 [ 814.404078][ T4558] Call trace: [ 814.404080][ T4558] usb_gadget_deactivate+0x14/0xf4 [ 814.404083][ T4558] usb_function_deactivate+0x54/0x94 [ 814.404087][ T4558] uvc_function_disconnect+0x1c/0x5c [ 814.404092][ T4558] uvc_v4l2_release+0x44/0xac [ 814.404095][ T4558] v4l2_release+0xcc/0x130 Address the race condition and NULL pointer dereference by: 1. State Synchronization (flag + mutex) Introduce a 'func_unbound' flag in struct uvc_device. This allows uvc_function_disconnect() to safely skip accessing the nullified cdev->gadget pointer. As suggested by Alan Stern, this flag is protected by a new mutex (uvc->lock) to ensure proper memory ordering and prevent instruction reordering or speculative loads. This mutex is also used to protect 'func_connected' for consistent state management. 2. Explicit Synchronization (completion) Use a completion to synchronize uvc_function_unbind() with the uvc_vdev_release() callback. This prevents Use-After-Free (UAF) by ensuring struct uvc_device is freed after all video device resources are released.
At a glance
- Exploitability
- Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of service disruption.
- Exploit odds
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Fix
- A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.
Timeline
- PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
- Last updatedMost recent change to the record
Why it ranks here
- Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
- Exploit odds: 0.1% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Severity: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
- Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.
Details
- Published
- Last modified
- Exploit probability
- 0.1% · EPSS, next 30 days
- Weakness
- CWE-476 · NULL pointer dereference
- Record status
- Analyzed
Affected
- Linux Kernel < 5.10.253
- Linux Kernel < 5.15.203
- Linux Kernel < 6.1.168
- Linux Kernel < 6.6.134
- Linux Kernel < 6.12.81
- Linux Kernel < 6.18.22
- Linux Kernel < 6.19.12
- Linux Kernel 7.0
Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.5
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Is it in your code?
Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.
Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2026-31726.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2026-31726. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.
Fix and advisories
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0587de744615628c38e33ddc1601160a5ea8c50a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0c00ec409d7b2bce3fcac73188b79a141db7cfda
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1aa9356881ee4ed414bf72d0c56d915492cb5345
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8a1128d604c360eca135f15b882b70256a522145
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c038ba56b92e410d1caec22b2dc68780a0b42091
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c78e463ee134b4669579d453c81ae00795e4c19a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d92d1532e05b1b31d36d48765e43bf73d793d19f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eba2936bbe6b752a31725a9eb5c674ecbf21ee7d
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0587de744615628c38e33ddc1601160a5ea8c50a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0c00ec409d7b2bce3fcac73188b79a141db7cfda
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1aa9356881ee4ed414bf72d0c56d915492cb5345
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8a1128d604c360eca135f15b882b70256a522145
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c038ba56b92e410d1caec22b2dc68780a0b42091
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c78e463ee134b4669579d453c81ae00795e4c19a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d92d1532e05b1b31d36d48765e43bf73d793d19f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eba2936bbe6b752a31725a9eb5c674ecbf21ee7d