Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Primary rating from NVD.
CVSS VectorNVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Lifecycle Timeline
5DescriptionCVE.org
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
HID: appletb-kbd: run inactivity autodim from workqueues
The autodim code in hid-appletb-kbd takes backlight_device->ops_lock via backlight_device_set_brightness() -> mutex_lock() from two different atomic contexts:
- appletb_inactivity_timer() is a struct timer_list callback, so it
runs in softirq context. Every expiry triggers
BUG: sleeping function called from invalid context at kernel/locking/mutex.c:591 Call Trace: <IRQ> __might_resched __mutex_lock backlight_device_set_brightness appletb_inactivity_timer call_timer_fn run_timer_softirq
- reset_inactivity_timer() is called from appletb_kbd_hid_event() and
appletb_kbd_inp_event(). On real USB hardware these run in softirq/IRQ context (URB completion and input-event dispatch). When the Touch Bar has already been dimmed or turned off, the reset path calls backlight_device_set_brightness() directly to restore brightness, producing the same warning.
Both call sites hit the same mutex_lock()-from-atomic bug. Fix them together by moving the blocking work onto the system workqueue:
- Convert the inactivity timer from struct timer_list to
struct delayed_work; the callback (appletb_inactivity_work) now runs in process context where mutex_lock() is legal.
- Add a dedicated struct work_struct restore_brightness_work and have
reset_inactivity_timer() schedule it instead of calling backlight_device_set_brightness() directly.
Cancel both works synchronously during driver tear-down alongside the existing backlight reference drop.
The semantics are unchanged (same delays, same state transitions on dim, turn-off and user activity); only the execution context of the sleeping call changes. The timer field and callback are renamed to match their new type; reset_inactivity_timer() keeps its name because it is invoked from input event paths that read naturally as "reset the inactivity timer".
AnalysisAI
Kernel crash (denial of service) in the Linux kernel's hid-appletb-kbd driver results from calling a mutex-acquiring function from softirq and IRQ atomic contexts on Apple Touch Bar MacBooks running Linux. Authenticated local attackers with low privileges can trigger a kernel BUG by inducing Touch Bar inactivity or generating HID events that exercise the broken brightness-reset path, crashing the system. No public exploit has been identified and EPSS is 0.02% (4th percentile), reflecting the niche hardware requirement; patches are available in kernel versions 6.18.32, 7.0.9, and 7.1-rc4.
Technical ContextAI
The hid-appletb-kbd driver manages the autodim backlight timer for the Apple Touch Bar. Two code paths - appletb_inactivity_timer() (a struct timer_list callback, running in Linux softirq context) and reset_inactivity_timer() (called from USB URB completion and input-event dispatch, also in softirq/IRQ context) - both invoke backlight_device_set_brightness(), which internally calls mutex_lock() on backlight_device->ops_lock. The Linux kernel forbids sleeping (blocking) operations such as mutex acquisition inside atomic contexts (softirq, hardirq), and this violation triggers the kernel's __might_resched/__might_sleep instrumentation, producing a BUG and potentially crashing the system. The fix converts the inactivity timer from struct timer_list to struct delayed_work (which defers execution to process context via the system workqueue, where mutex_lock() is legal) and introduces a dedicated struct work_struct for brightness restoration. No formal CWE is assigned, but the root cause class is improper locking / sleep-while-atomic, analogous to CWE-667 (Improper Locking). CPE data confirms the affected product as cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel across multiple stable and release-candidate branches.
RemediationAI
The primary remediation is to upgrade the Linux kernel to version 6.18.32, 7.0.9, or 7.1-rc4 (or any later stable release), which incorporate the workqueue-based fix via upstream commits 1654e53349d4e657b331de354313461f401f5063, 2473a334c292af257ef68e33bc7760f4a8251812, and 5c0830323689ef15224f0025276176988861b3b0, available at https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/. Distribution maintainers (Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, etc.) should be consulted for backport status in their respective kernel packages. As a compensating control on unpatched systems, unloading or blacklisting the hid-appletb-kbd module eliminates the vulnerable code path entirely: run 'modprobe -r hid-appletb-kbd' for an immediate effect, or add 'blacklist hid-appletb-kbd' to /etc/modprobe.d/ for persistence across reboots. The trade-off is loss of Touch Bar backlight autodim and keyboard brightness management functionality. This workaround has no security side effects beyond the loss of that feature. NVD advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-46202.
Same technique Information Disclosure
View allVendor StatusVendor
SUSE
Severity: Moderate| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP7 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS Extended Security | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS Extended Security | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server LTS 4.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server LTS 4.3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE CaaS Platform 4.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-BCL | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-BCL | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-BCL | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 9 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | Not-Affected |
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External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today
EUVD-2026-32829
GHSA-w4g4-gf2v-88rm