Driver-unbind hang via canceled-read reference leak
Published Oct 18, 2026 · Updated Oct 18, 2026
Reference leakage in Linux Thunderbolt allows attackers to hang driver unbinding by canceling a DisplayPort capability read. The tb_tunnel_one_dp() function acquires a domain reference that only tb_dp_tunnel_active() releases, leaving it outstanding when the queued read is canceled. Triggering the hang requires DisplayPort tunnel teardown before the read completes, followed by driver unbinding; the documented consequence is an indefinite driver-removal wait, not a demonstrated system-wide crash.
Summary
What happened
Reference leakage in Linux Thunderbolt allows attackers to hang driver unbinding by canceling a DisplayPort capability read. The tb_tunnel_one_dp() function acquires a domain reference that only tb_dp_tunnel_active() releases, leaving it outstanding when the queued read is canceled. Triggering the hang requires DisplayPort tunnel teardown before the read completes, followed by driver unbinding; the documented consequence is an indefinite driver-removal wait, not a demonstrated system-wide crash.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98690
- Published
- Oct 18, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 18, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 18, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=6.14
- Affected versionversion=d6d458d42e1e1544a18f37f1d5c840e00d5261b9 <1fd1f67c94d30889377bba774f032ec15e8b9299
- Affected versionversion=d6d458d42e1e1544a18f37f1d5c840e00d5261b9 <2f5893172fc6153f5f1ef34014ddbfcbf1f47f29
- Affected versionversion=d6d458d42e1e1544a18f37f1d5c840e00d5261b9 <7739b02129b2248f9a8054cfda924fa253f66a88
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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