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CVE-2026-98198

Linux: hwmon: (pwm-fan) Stop RPM timer before freeing tach data

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.18%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 6% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in1e824fdb14a187ce56697e803b02b1e86243a755Also 26d5ff79768548efb1e604bb6e8697c101e06269CVE List
Published6 Oct 2026Updated 21 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 1e824fdb14a187ce56697e803b02b1e86243a755LinuxCVE List
  • 26d5ff79768548efb1e604bb6e8697c101e06269LinuxCVE List

A fixed version on one release line is not the upgrade target for every line. Check your exact version and any vendor backports.

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

hwmon: (pwm-fan) Stop RPM timer before freeing tach data

sample_timer() rearms the RPM timer and accesses the devm-managed ctx->tachs and ctx->pulses_per_revolution arrays. The cleanup action which stops the timer is registered before those arrays are allocated.

Since devres releases entries in reverse order, driver detach can free the arrays before pwm_fan_cleanup() shuts down the timer. A timer expiry in that window accesses the freed tach data.

With a KASAN kernel, a test-only kprobe delayed entry to pwm_fan_cleanup() while normal sysfs unbind ran. Each of three runs reported three four-byte reads and two four-byte writes in sample_timer() after its backing devm allocations had been freed. The helper did not invoke the timer callback, cleanup actions or free functions.

With the fix, three matching unbind runs completed without KASAN, BUG, WARNING, Oops or panic. Instrumentation confirmed that timer retirement completed before the first timer backing allocation was released.

Split timer retirement from the power cleanup and register its devres action after the timer backing data and IRQ actions are installed. This preserves the early power rollback action while ensuring the timer is retired before its backing data is released. Use timer_shutdown_sync() because the callback can rearm itself.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 12

  • Linuxaffected: 01695410d4529e38fea6159fa9f1260c598290b0 before d073d306e587c1f35aaf9c07c42e54a3d5895d8fCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 01695410d4529e38fea6159fa9f1260c598290b0 before 1e824fdb14a187ce56697e803b02b1e86243a755CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 01695410d4529e38fea6159fa9f1260c598290b0 before a5ce3fe5335a24d0220958c6866830a6d5fa1cc0CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 01695410d4529e38fea6159fa9f1260c598290b0 before b48339b0a577783e4590a69e4cd2f2760ce33154CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 01695410d4529e38fea6159fa9f1260c598290b0 before 26d5ff79768548efb1e604bb6e8697c101e06269CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 5.12CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 5.12CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.6.160 through 6.6.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.12.112 through 6.12.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.18.54 through 6.18.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.8 through 7.2.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List

References 5