CVE-2026-98809

Bluetooth: hci_sync: don't drain cmd_sync backlog on unregister

Published Oct 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 4.4 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

Bluetooth: hci_sync: don't drain cmd_sync backlog on unregister

hci_unregister_dev() disables cmd_work and cmd_timer, then calls
hci_cmd_sync_clear(), whose cancel_work_sync() waits for
hci_cmd_sync_work() to return. That worker dequeues and runs every
entry on cmd_sync_work_list. With cmd_work disabled nothing reaches
the controller, so each queued HCI command waits the full
HCI_CMD_TIMEOUT (2s).

The backlog has no bound. Userspace can keep queuing MGMT commands
such as MGMT_OP_GET_CLOCK_INFO against a controller that doesn't
answer. Closing /dev/vhci then blocks in vhci_release() for
backlog * 2s:

INFO: task syz-executor:5749 blocked for more than 143 seconds.
cancel_work_sync
hci_cmd_sync_clear
hci_unregister_dev
vhci_release

In a local reproduction the backlog held more than 5000 entries,
which comes to hours of hang.

Stop the worker from taking new entries once HCI_UNREGISTER is set,
and wake any request still waiting with -ENODEV before cancelling
the work. The entries left over are destroyed with -ECANCELED by the
existing sweep in hci_cmd_sync_clear(). They stay on the list until
the work has stopped, so hci_cmd_sync_dequeue() and friends still see
them. A callback already running may still issue another command,
which delays unregister by at most one timeout per remaining command,
not by the whole backlog.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4850-1 linux-6.12 security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-2 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9022-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9023-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9024-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9025-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9026-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9039-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9040-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9066-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9091-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-770
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: hci_sync: don't drain cmd_sync backlog on unregister hci_unregister_dev() disables cmd_work and cmd_timer, then calls hci_cmd_sync_clear(), whose cancel_work_sync() waits for hci_cmd_sync_work() to return. That worker dequeues and runs every entry on cmd_sync_work_list. With cmd_work disabled nothing reaches the controller, so each queued HCI command waits the full HCI_CMD_TIMEOUT (2s). The backlog has no bound. Userspace can keep queuing MGMT commands such as MGMT_OP_GET_CLOCK_INFO against a controller that doesn't answer. Closing /dev/vhci then blocks in vhci_release() for backlog * 2s: INFO: task syz-executor:5749 blocked for more than 143 seconds. cancel_work_sync hci_cmd_sync_clear hci_unregister_dev vhci_release In a local reproduction the backlog held more than 5000 entries, which comes to hours of hang. Stop the worker from taking new entries once HCI_UNREGISTER is set, and wake any request still waiting with -ENODEV before cancelling the work. The entries left over are destroyed with -ECANCELED by the existing sweep in hci_cmd_sync_clear(). They stay on the list until the work has stopped, so hci_cmd_sync_dequeue() and friends still see them. A callback already running may still issue another command, which delays unregister by at most one timeout per remaining command, not by the whole backlog.
Title Bluetooth: hci_sync: don't drain cmd_sync backlog on unregister
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 30, 2026, 12:39 PM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM
Status
Received
Published
Oct 18, 2026, 4:17 PM
Modified
Oct 30, 2026, 1:21 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 18, 2026, 12:00 AM