CVE-2026-53161
Published: June 25, 2026· Updated: Jun 30, 2026
Official Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
misc: fastrpc: fix use-after-free of fastrpc_user in workqueue context
There is a race between fastrpc_device_release() and the workqueue
that processes DSP responses. When the user closes the file descriptor,
fastrpc_device_release() frees the fastrpc_user structure. Concurrently,
an in-flight DSP invocation can complete and fastrpc_rpmsg_callback()
schedules context cleanup via schedule_work(&ctx->put_work). If the
workqueue runs fastrpc_context_free() in parallel with or after
fastrpc_device_release() has freed the user structure, it dereferences
the freed fastrpc_user. Depending on the state of the context at the
time of the race, any one of the following accesses can be hit:
1. fastrpc_buf_free() calls fastrpc_ipa_to_dma_addr(buf->fl->cctx, ...)
to strip the SID bits from the stored IOVA before passing the
physical address to dma_free_coherent().
2. fastrpc_free_map() reads map->fl->cctx->vmperms[0].vmid to
reconstruct the source permission bitmask needed for the
qcom_scm_assign_mem() call that returns memory from the DSP VM
back to HLOS.
3. fastrpc_free_map() acquires map->fl->lock to safely remove the
map node from the fl->maps list.
The resulting use-after-free manifests as:
pc : fastrpc_buf_free+0x38/0x80 [fastrpc]
lr : fastrpc_context_free+0xa8/0x1b0 [fastrpc]
fastrpc_context_free+0xa8/0x1b0 [fastrpc]
fastrpc_context_put_wq+0x78/0xa0 [fastrpc]
process_one_work+0x180/0x450
worker_thread+0x26c/0x388
Add kref-based reference counting to fastrpc_user. Have each invoke
context take a reference on the user at allocation time and release it
when the context is freed. Release the initial reference in
fastrpc_device_release() at file close. Move the teardown of the user
structure — freeing pending contexts, maps, mmaps, and the channel
context reference — into the kref release callback fastrpc_user_free(),
so that it runs only when the last reference is dropped, regardless of
whether that happens at device close or after the final in-flight
context completes.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-53161 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.8.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
All References (8)
Quick Facts
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2026-53161 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts