# CVE-2024-26801: Bluetooth: Avoid potential use-after-free in hci_error_reset

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel Bluetooth subsystem allows local attackers to cause a system crash when handling hardware errors.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 4 Apr 2024
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2024-26801, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-26801, GHSA-2252-87pv-34g4, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-26801

## What is CVE-2024-26801?

CVE-2024-26801 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 4 Apr 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

Bluetooth: Avoid potential use-after-free in hci_error_reset

While handling the HCI_EV_HARDWARE_ERROR event, if the underlying
BT controller is not responding, the GPIO reset mechanism would
free the hci_dev and lead to a use-after-free in hci_error_reset.

Here's the call trace observed on a ChromeOS device with Intel AX201:
   queue_work_on+0x3e/0x6c
   __hci_cmd_sync_sk+0x2ee/0x4c0 [bluetooth <HASH:3b4a6>]
   ? init_wait_entry+0x31/0x31
   __hci_cmd_sync+0x16/0x20 [bluetooth <HASH:3b4a 6>]
   hci_error_reset+0x4f/0xa4 [bluetooth <HASH:3b4a 6>]
   process_one_work+0x1d8/0x33f
   worker_thread+0x21b/0x373
   kthread+0x13a/0x152
   ? pr_cont_work+0x54/0x54
   ? kthread_blkcg+0x31/0x31
    ret_from_fork+0x1f/0x30

This patch holds the reference count on the hci_dev while processing
a HCI_EV_HARDWARE_ERROR event to avoid potential crash.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-26801?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-26801?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2024-26801 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-26801 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-26801 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-26801 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 4 Apr 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-26801 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-26801/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-26801/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-26801
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-26801
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-26801

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-26801/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.