published October 18, 2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
Bluetooth: hci_sync: Fix inquiry cache use-after-free
The sync command worker holds hdev->req_lock, but inquiry-cache updates
and flushes use hdev->lock. Both hci_acl_create_conn_sync() and
hci_stop_discovery_sync() look up entries and read their fields without
taking hdev->lock.
After either lookup returns, a concurrent HCIINQUIRY ioctl can acquire
hdev->lock and flush the cache, freeing the entry. The worker then reads
the freed entry while preparing a create-connection or remote-name-cancel
command. The list traversal also races with cache updates and removal.
KASAN reported these accesses:
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in hci_acl_create_conn_sync+0x5f1/0x650
Workqueue: hci0 hci_cmd_sync_work
Call Trace:
hci_acl_create_conn_sync+0x5f1/0x650
hci_cmd_sync_work+0x13c/0x290
Allocated by task 90:
hci_inquiry_cache_update+0x3e6/0x7d0
hci_inquiry_result_evt+0x3cb/0x560
Freed by task 93:
hci_inquiry_cache_flush+0x111/0x2b0
hci_inquiry+0x2f2/0x780
hci_sock_ioctl+0x269/0x5f0
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in hci_stop_discovery_sync+0x3b1/0x3c0
Workqueue: hci0 hci_cmd_sync_work
Call Trace:
hci_stop_discovery_sync+0x3b1/0x3c0
hci_cmd_sync_work+0x173/0x300
Allocated by task 86:
hci_inquiry_cache_update+0x483/0x940
hci_inquiry_result_evt+0x3cb/0x560
Freed by task 91:
hci_inquiry_cache_flush+0x13e/0x2f0
hci_inquiry+0x2f2/0x780
hci_sock_ioctl+0x269/0x5f0
Hold hdev->lock across each lookup and all reads from its result. Copy the
remote address before unlocking so discovery cancellation does not retain
a cache entry pointer. Release the lock before sending synchronous HCI
commands, since their completion handlers may need the same lock.