CVE-2026-89880
media: rtl2832_sdr: release URBs and stream buffers on start_streaming() failure
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: rtl2832_sdr: release URBs and stream buffers on start_streaming() failure rtl2832_sdr_start_streaming() calls rtl2832_sdr_alloc_stream_bufs(), rtl2832_sdr_alloc_urbs() and rtl2832_sdr_submit_urbs() in sequence and shares a single err: label that only unlocks the mutex and returns. When alloc_urbs() succeeds but submit_urbs() fails, or when alloc_urbs() itself returns -ENOMEM after alloc_stream_bufs() has already succeeded, the URBs and/or the coherent DMA stream buffers stay allocated while streaming reports failure to vb2. Two latent defects follow on the next VIDIOC_STREAMON: 1) rtl2832_sdr_alloc_stream_bufs() unconditionally resets dev->buf_num to 0 and overwrites dev->buf_list[]/dev->dma_addr[], permanently leaking the coherent DMA memory allocated by the previous attempt. 2) rtl2832_sdr_alloc_urbs() never resets dev->urbs_initialized and only increments it. After a second successful pass urbs_initialized can exceed MAX_BULK_BUFS, so the subsequent rtl2832_sdr_free_urbs() walks from urbs_initialized - 1 down to 0 and reads past the end of dev->urb_list[], passing garbage pointers to usb_free_urb(). Mirror the teardown that stop_streaming() already performs: on the error path call rtl2832_sdr_free_urbs() and rtl2832_sdr_free_stream_bufs() before unlocking. Both helpers are idempotent (free_urbs kills and zeros urbs_initialized; free_stream_bufs is gated on URB_BUF and clears the buf_num counter), so partial-failure paths and the no-allocation paths remain safe. Issue identified by automated review of the INV-003 series at https://sashiko.dev/
INFO
Published Date :
Sept. 16, 2026, 11:16 a.m.
Last Modified :
Sept. 16, 2026, 3:18 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 |
Solution
- Call rtl2832_sdr_free_urbs() before unlocking.
- Call rtl2832_sdr_free_stream_bufs() before unlocking.
- Update the Linux kernel to the latest version.
- Apply the provided patch for the rtl2832_sdr driver.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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CVE-2026-89880.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-89880 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-89880
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
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Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
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CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Sep. 16, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H -
New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Sep. 16, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: rtl2832_sdr: release URBs and stream buffers on start_streaming() failure rtl2832_sdr_start_streaming() calls rtl2832_sdr_alloc_stream_bufs(), rtl2832_sdr_alloc_urbs() and rtl2832_sdr_submit_urbs() in sequence and shares a single err: label that only unlocks the mutex and returns. When alloc_urbs() succeeds but submit_urbs() fails, or when alloc_urbs() itself returns -ENOMEM after alloc_stream_bufs() has already succeeded, the URBs and/or the coherent DMA stream buffers stay allocated while streaming reports failure to vb2. Two latent defects follow on the next VIDIOC_STREAMON: 1) rtl2832_sdr_alloc_stream_bufs() unconditionally resets dev->buf_num to 0 and overwrites dev->buf_list[]/dev->dma_addr[], permanently leaking the coherent DMA memory allocated by the previous attempt. 2) rtl2832_sdr_alloc_urbs() never resets dev->urbs_initialized and only increments it. After a second successful pass urbs_initialized can exceed MAX_BULK_BUFS, so the subsequent rtl2832_sdr_free_urbs() walks from urbs_initialized - 1 down to 0 and reads past the end of dev->urb_list[], passing garbage pointers to usb_free_urb(). Mirror the teardown that stop_streaming() already performs: on the error path call rtl2832_sdr_free_urbs() and rtl2832_sdr_free_stream_bufs() before unlocking. Both helpers are idempotent (free_urbs kills and zeros urbs_initialized; free_stream_bufs is gated on URB_BUF and clears the buf_num counter), so partial-failure paths and the no-allocation paths remain safe. Issue identified by automated review of the INV-003 series at https://sashiko.dev/ Added Affected New affected value received. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/89xxx/CVE-2026-89880.json">CVE-2026-89880</a> Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0337ab0759285076a3f9dcfcc40906e69ab519b3 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/26a2a985bbeee3eaa6f80ff7de732161a171ec9f Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8bcf11a239eac4e224ad856277de9a36c91b1711 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ac02b2c56ccef0788cea9b86990a8f349a3fc6d8 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c819dea3a433ae790b829443fdcc1715d1586560 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c91e8ae2b39c6da81f26f2c9877d3fd33a4465ce Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f14a713a36a5c87568430e9770896f2a8f5bbbb7 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fe50cdaebf12cd32ff9a44d92bfd6fbc2300dbd4