Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
media: mediatek: vcodec: fix use-after-free in encoder release path
The fops_vcodec_release() function frees the context structure (ctx)
without first cancelling any pending or running work in ctx->encode_work.
This creates a race window where the workqueue handler (mtk_venc_worker)
may still be accessing the context memory after it has been freed.
Race condition:
CPU 0 (release path) CPU 1 (workqueue)
--------------------- ------------------
fops_vcodec_release()
v4l2_m2m_ctx_release()
v4l2_m2m_cancel_job()
// waits for m2m job "done"
mtk_venc_worker()
v4l2_m2m_job_finish()
// m2m job "done"
// BUT worker still running!
// post-job_finish access:
other ctx dereferences
// UAF if ctx already freed
// returns (job "done")
kfree(ctx) // ctx freed
Root cause: The v4l2_m2m_ctx_release() only waits for the m2m job
lifecycle (via TRANS_RUNNING flag), not the workqueue lifecycle.
After v4l2_m2m_job_finish() is called, the m2m framework considers
the job complete and v4l2_m2m_ctx_release() returns, but the worker
function continues executing and may still access ctx.
The work is queued during encode operations via:
queue_work(ctx->dev->encode_workqueue, &ctx->encode_work)
The worker function accesses ctx->m2m_ctx, ctx->dev, and other ctx
fields even after calling v4l2_m2m_job_finish().
This vulnerability was confirmed with KASAN by running an instrumented
test module that widens the post-job_finish race window. KASAN detected:
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in mtk_venc_worker+0x159/0x180
Read of size 4 at addr ffff88800326e000 by task kworker/u8:0/12
Workqueue: mtk_vcodec_enc_wq mtk_venc_worker
Allocated by task 47:
__kasan_kmalloc+0x7f/0x90
fops_vcodec_open+0x85/0x1a0
Freed by task 47:
__kasan_slab_free+0x43/0x70
kfree+0xee/0x3a0
fops_vcodec_release+0xb7/0x190
Fix this by calling cancel_work_sync(&ctx->encode_work) before kfree(ctx).
This ensures the workqueue handler is both cancelled (if pending) and
synchronized (waits for any running handler to complete) before the
context is freed.
Placement rationale: The fix is placed after v4l2_ctrl_handler_free()
and before list_del_init(&ctx->list). At this point, all m2m operations
are done (v4l2_m2m_ctx_release() has returned), and we need to ensure
the workqueue is synchronized before removing ctx from the list and
freeing it.
Note: The open error path does NOT need cancel_work_sync() because
INIT_WORK() only initializes the work structure - it does not schedule
it. Work is only scheduled later during device_run() operations.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.6 | 6.6.136 |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 6.19.14-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.12.85-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 24.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 6.8.0-1028.33 | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux | 7.0.0-27.27 | USN-8488-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-aws | 7.0.0-1008.8 | USN-8488-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-azure | 7.0.0-1010.10 | USN-8603-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-gcp +1 | 7.0.0-1007.7 | USN-8488-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-ibm +1 | 7.0.0-1009.9 | USN-8603-1, USN-8488-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 7.0.0-1013.13 | USN-8507-1 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 7.0.0-1014.14 | USN-8488-2 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux-riscv +1 | 7.0.0-27.27.1 | USN-8488-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux +8 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux | 6.8.0-136.136 | USN-8567-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1061.64 | USN-8595-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1063.71 | USN-8606-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 6.8.0-1062.69 | USN-8607-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1064.72 | USN-8567-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1059.67 | USN-8567-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1046.50 | USN-8567-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-hwe-7.0 | 7.0.0-28.28~24.04.1 | USN-8569-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1061.62 | USN-8574-3 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-136.136.2 | USN-8574-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1059.62 | USN-8596-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1059.62.1 | USN-8596-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 6.8.0-1030.31 | USN-8574-3 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1058.61 | USN-8574-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1061.65 | USN-8665-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +27 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-vmware | 6.8.0-1008.8 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-xilinx | 6.8.0-1033.34 | USN-8574-3 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1 | USN-8595-3 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1 | USN-8606-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.8 | 6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1 | USN-8609-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1 | USN-8567-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1 | USN-8619-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1 | USN-8574-3 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1 | USN-8574-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | 6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1 | USN-8596-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1 | USN-8595-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3 | — |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | 6.8.0-2050.52 | USN-8665-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 6.8.1-1056.57 | USN-8567-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.14 +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.8 | 6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2 | USN-8567-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 6.8.0-1061.64+fips1 | USN-8595-3 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 6.8.0-1063.71+fips2 | USN-8608-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-fips | 6.8.0-136.136+fips2 | USN-8574-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 6.8.0-1064.72+fips1 | USN-8574-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | kernel-64kb +8 | 6.12.0-160000.35.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22127-1 |
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.35.1.160000.2.16 | SUSE-SU-2026:22127-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | kernel-64kb +8 | 6.12.0-160000.35.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22127-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22099-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.35.1.160000.2.16 | SUSE-SU-2026:22127-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.2 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.35.1.160000.2.16 | SUSE-SU-2026:22112-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.2 | kernel-rt +5 | 6.12.0-160000.35.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22117-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22112-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | kernel-source | 7.0.3-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:10703-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.35.1.160000.2.16 | openSUSE-SU-2026:20965-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | kernel-rt +11 | 6.12.0-160000.35.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:20965-1 |
Advisories 26
- USN-8574-2 linux-fips, linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8, linux-oracle vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8596-1 linux-nvidia, linux-nvidia-6.8, linux-nvidia-lowlatency vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8607-1 linux-azure-fde vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8608-1 linux-azure-fips vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8595-1 linux-oracle-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8595-3 linux-aws-6.8, linux-aws-fips vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8603-1 linux-azure, linux-azure-fde vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8609-1 linux-azure-fde-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8595-2 linux-aws vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8574-1 linux-gcp-fips vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8574-3 linux-ibm, linux-ibm-6.8, linux-nvidia-tegra, linux-xilinx vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8619-1 linux-hwe-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8665-1 linux-raspi, linux-raspi-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8606-1 linux-azure, linux-azure-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- WID-SEC-2026-1279 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-8567-1 linux, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-6.8, linux-gke, linux-gkeop, linux-realtime, linux-realtime-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8488-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-gcp, linux-ibm, linux-oracle, linux-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8569-1 linux-hwe-7.0 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8488-2 linux-raspi vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8507-1 linux-nvidia vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22117-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:20965-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jun 24, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22127-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jun 17, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22112-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jun 17, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22099-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jun 17, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:10703-1 kernel-devel-7.0.3-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2026
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9a9bdaf9dc42ccca50e53f82165292f74a365c11
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8a55913552aed45108525d1851c65e1db0cc25b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f99353cd0e9f58bf17889049137b8d65fb44ebf1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/93d9a58961a9e09306857e999b3ee76aa4be67f0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f1692337c6fa26e04f89b22a4d84bf5b7ada50d1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/76e35091ffc722ba39b303e48bc5d08abb59dd56