Linux Kernel up to 6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5 hci_sync /dev/vhci hci_unregister_dev resource consumption

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CTI Interest Score
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4.0$0-$5k1.43

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as problematic has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5. Affected by this issue is the function hci_unregister_dev of the file /dev/vhci of the component hci_sync. The manipulation leads to resource consumption. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-98809. An attack has to be approached locally. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5. It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects the function hci_unregister_dev of the file /dev/vhci of the component hci_sync. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a resource consumption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-400. The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource, thereby enabling an actor to influence the amount of resources consumed, eventually leading to the exhaustion of available resources. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

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.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-98809 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. Additional levels of successful authentication are needed for exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10 or 7.3-rc6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 143bde97c4101ae68eb656c87e620c45b07a3090/7f16443a30f4e86d84ae4faf057d333b41ddb757/e8ba8c9c74d1035042cdf6cb5adf8f59b9b1271c/b1f24c1ab52345e810c42a1a81286cb5a7c92252 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.2
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.2
VulDB Temp Score: 4.0
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Resource consumption
CWE: CWE-400 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.12.113/6.18.56/7.2.10/7.3-rc6
Patch: 143bde97c4101ae68eb656c87e620c45b07a3090/7f16443a30f4e86d84ae4faf057d333b41ddb757/e8ba8c9c74d1035042cdf6cb5adf8f59b9b1271c/b1f24c1ab52345e810c42a1a81286cb5a7c92252

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/18/2026 +23 days Advisory disclosed
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98809 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98809
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-421829

Entryinfo

Created: 10/18/2026 18:14
Changes: 10/18/2026 18:14 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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