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CVE-2026-98688

Linux: thunderbolt: Fix NULL dereference in tb_remove_work()

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.15%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 4% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in2f4cd43faa9d6470b30a9fbcbac6584db8108c1fAlso 4310c6b8e75d6a47f7548e5948fbe6318aa4440a, 5.11 and 1 moreCVE List
Published18 Oct 2026Updated 19 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

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:

thunderbolt: Fix NULL dereference in tb_remove_work()

There is a slight race between tb_remove_work() and tb_domain_remove() which leads to dereferencing a NULL tb->root_switch pointer inside tb_free_unplugged_xdomains():

Thread A Thread B

tb_remove_work() tb_domain_remove() mutex_lock(&tb->lock) tb_stop() /* doesn't cancel a running callback */ cancel_delayed_work(&tcm->remove_work) ... tb_switch_remove(tb->root_switch) tb->root_switch = NULL mutex_unlock(&tb->lock) mutex_lock(&tb->lock) ... /* without checking ->root_switch */ tb_free_unplugged_xdomains(tb->root_switch) mutex_unlock(&tb->lock)

Commit a8937f35cf39 ("thunderbolt: Remove XDomain from the bus without holding tb->lock") doesn't seem right to move tb_free_unplugged_xdomains() out of the &tb->lock section and the check for tb->root_switch, in particular. It states:

For this reason separate removing the XDomain from the topology data structures (where we need the lock) from unregistering the device from the bus (where remove callbacks of the drivers are being called).

tb_free_unplugged_xdomains() belongs to the former group of functions requiring the lock. And it also calls tb_xdomain_remove() which should only be called with &tb->lock held.

Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Svace static analysis tool.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 10

  • Linuxaffected: a8937f35cf39c39c64325aa84d0463d866850857 before 2f4cd43faa9d6470b30a9fbcbac6584db8108c1fCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: a8937f35cf39c39c64325aa84d0463d866850857 before 4310c6b8e75d6a47f7548e5948fbe6318aa4440aCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 3e9e823810b9a51f0bee9ed6e3d90df70484ff8dCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 9363cd4977260bf7f211feee54f85858bba2320cCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 5.10.266 before 5.11CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 5.15.217 before 5.16CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 7.2CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 7.2CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.10 through 7.2.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List

References 2