CVE-2026-98768 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/18/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
usb: typec: anx7411 - stop the IRQ before destroying the workqueue
The IRQ is devm-managed, so it can still queue plat->work while remove() is tearing the queue down. Disable it first.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2026
This vulnerability addresses a race condition within the Linux kernel's USB Type-C driver for the ANX7411 chip, specifically involving improper resource teardown sequencing during device removal. The core technical flaw lies in the interaction between interrupt request handling and workqueue destruction. Although the interrupt line is managed via devm (device-managed resources), which typically automates cleanup, there remains a window of vulnerability where an interrupt can fire after the driver has initiated the dismantling of its associated workqueue but before that queue is fully destroyed. In this scenario, if an IRQ triggers while the removal process is underway, it may attempt to schedule or execute a task on plat->work. Since the workqueue structure might already be in a state of being freed or corrupted due to concurrent teardown operations, accessing it leads to undefined behavior, potentially resulting in kernel panics, memory corruption, or system instability.
The operational impact of this flaw is significant for systems relying on stable USB Type-C connectivity through ANX7411 hardware. A successful exploitation does not necessarily require malicious intent from an external actor; rather, the vulnerability can be triggered by normal device removal events combined with high-frequency interrupt activity. This could lead to a denial of service against the host system if the kernel crashes due to use-after-free or null pointer dereference errors within the workqueue execution context. For environments where hot-plugging USB devices is common, such as in industrial control systems or consumer electronics manufacturing testing rigs, this instability can cause frequent reboots and data loss during active sessions.
From a security architecture perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-362, which describes concurrent execution using shared resources without proper locking, although it specifically manifests here as a race condition leading to use-after-free characteristics inherent in improper resource lifecycle management. In the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework for Linux systems, this vulnerability relates to techniques involving exploitation of software vulnerabilities during system maintenance or teardown phases, which are often less monitored than runtime operations. The lack of synchronization between interrupt disabling and workqueue destruction creates a temporal gap that violates the principle of least privilege by allowing hardware interrupts to interact with deinitialized kernel structures.
To mitigate this risk, it is imperative to enforce strict ordering in driver removal routines. As resolved in the referenced patch, the correct procedure requires explicitly disabling the IRQ before proceeding with any steps that destroy or modify shared data structures like workqueues. This ensures that no new interrupt handlers can be queued while the system is transitioning into a state where those resources are invalid. Developers implementing similar drivers must adhere to this pattern: disable hardware interrupts first, wait for any pending handler executions to complete if necessary, and only then proceed with freeing memory or destroying kernel objects. Regular static analysis tools should also be employed to detect such race conditions in driver code before deployment.