---
id: CVE-2026-98501
title: >-
  kernel: HID: alps: fix use-after-free on input2 registration failure
  (CVE-2026-98501)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's Alps Human Interface Device (HID)
  driver. If registration of an input device fails during configuration, the
  driver frees the device memory while communication channels are already
  active, leaving a d…
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-825
vendor: Red Hat
product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
affected:
  - enterprise_linux 10
  - enterprise_linux 7
  - enterprise_linux 8
  - enterprise_linux 9
  - openshift_container_platform 4
published: '2026-10-18'
updated: '2026-10-24'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-24T14:23:25+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98501.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98501.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-98501'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2554853'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98501'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98501'
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-98501.mbox
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/64f824dccfd316fd3db8ea1cc4e8a76ad6a02740'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2e55d76e6e8a756f6d87c241de975599f82b02fa'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ef8ca5bb4c8b9696f38b1bebce1c851baa02b77b'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5a8ad63158165bacd6a1d7420e0fe5364c913b06'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/47e5e177e9e4e10da6f2759d5ce8d049e33efdc4'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/925da1d2a24787f24872de13a4680437c54de179'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/443f6b93442b10b972a16f57ceaaea75b77892b6'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d3aba3442798ce4a4c8ce3104d7b286d61e605f9'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
  - score-dispute
epss: 0.00259
epssPercentile: 0.17534
scores:
  vendor: 5.1
  cna: 7.1
ingestedAt: '2026-10-18T15:45:12.288Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's Alps Human Interface Device (HID) driver. If registration of an input device fails during configuration, the driver frees the device memory while communication channels are already active, leaving a dangling reference. An attacker capable of attaching a malicious device or sending crafted input reports can trigger a use-after-free condition during this failure window. This flaw primarily results in a Denial of Service (DoS) through a kernel crash, and may potentially allow arbitrary code execution.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · no fix planned: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, … · updated 2026-10-24 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98501.json)

**kernel: HID: alps: fix use-after-free on input2 registration failure** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-10-18, updated 2026-10-24.

Affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

No fix planned:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

Not affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

## Remediation

Fix deferred