CVE-2026-46202

HID: appletb-kbd: run inactivity autodim from workqueues

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: May 28, 2026 at 09:40 AM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 10:53 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.1%

Description

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".

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

6.15 ≤ v < 6.18.326.15 ≤ v < 7.0.96.15 ≤ v < 7.16.19 ≤ v < 7.0.97.1 rc17.1 rc27.1 rc393a0fc48948107e0cc34e1de22c3cb363a8f2783
Vendor states this is fixed in 1654e53349d4e657b331de354313461f401f5063 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 2473a334c292af257ef68e33bc7760f4a8251812 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5c0830323689ef15224f0025276176988861b3b0 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.15 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.18.32 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.0.9 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.1 (unaffected)

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
NVD-CWE-noinfo

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