CVE-2026-98501 HID: alps: fix use-after-free on input2 registration failure
A use-after-free in the Linux kernel Alps HID driver allows local attackers to cause denial of service or execute code via crafted USB reports.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-98501?
CVE-2026-98501 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 18 Oct 2026. 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:
HID: alps: fix use-after-free on input2 registration failure
alps_input_configured() stores data->input2 before calling input_register_device(). If registration fails, input_free_device() frees the input device but data->input2 still points to the freed memory. alps_input_configured() calls hid_hw_open() before allocating input2, so URBs are already active and raw_event can fire during the failure window. A U1_SP_ABSOLUTE_REPORT_ID report arriving then causes u1_raw_event() to dereference the freed data->input2 -> use-after-free.
Fix by only storing input2 into drvdata after successful registration and adding a NULL guard in the raw_event path.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98501?
How do I fix CVE-2026-98501?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2026-98501 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98501 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-108752, BELL-CVE-2026-98501, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98501, GHSA-56g2-px47-cfcj, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98501.