---
id: CVE-2026-89737
title: >-
  kernel: usb: typec: thunderbolt: Disable work before freeing tbt on remove
  (CVE-2026-89737)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's USB Type-C Thunderbolt driver. The
  `tbt_altmode_remove()` function fails to properly disable and drain work items
  before freeing associated plug and cable references. This oversight can lead
  to a use-…
severity: medium
cvss: 5.1
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
cwe:
  - CWE-416
  - CWE-825
vendor: Red Hat
product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
affected:
  - enterprise_linux 10
  - enterprise_linux 9
  - openshift_container_platform 4
published: '2026-09-11'
updated: '2026-10-21'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-21T08:32:32+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-89737.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-89737.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-89737'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2532239'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-89737'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89737'
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-89737.mbox
  - url: 'https://kernelcve.org/list/?q=CVE-2026-89737'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ebb840d982a612261cfc8a7687735a140c6c7024'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0a25484fe22f621e151367a59a82330a22ac80bc'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/92090f6ff2acc81e9dd99881dcfb4f8c1bdaabd3'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00206
epssPercentile: 0.10613
ingestedAt: '2026-09-14T11:11:19.885Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's USB Type-C Thunderbolt driver. The `tbt_altmode_remove()` function fails to properly disable and drain work items before freeing associated plug and cable references. This oversight can lead to a use-after-free vulnerability, where the system attempts to access memory that has already been released. A local attacker could potentially exploit this to cause a system crash, leading to a denial of service, or possibly achieve arbitrary code execution.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · no fix planned: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · updated 2026-10-21 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-89737.json)

**kernel: usb: typec: thunderbolt: Disable work before freeing tbt on remove** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-09-11, updated 2026-10-21.

Affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

No fix planned:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

Not affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

## Remediation

Fix deferred

Workarounds / mitigations:

- Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options don't meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.