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".
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".
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | unaffected |
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Linux | Linux | affected |
|
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Advisories
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Fixes
Solution
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Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Thu, 28 May 2026 10:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| 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". | |
| Title | HID: appletb-kbd: run inactivity autodim from workqueues | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
Projects
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MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-05-28T09:40:18.687Z
Reserved: 2026-05-13T15:03:33.104Z
Link: CVE-2026-46202
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Awaiting Analysis
Published: 2026-05-28T10:16:35.860
Modified: 2026-05-28T13:44:01.663
Link: CVE-2026-46202
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
Updated: 2026-05-28T13:15:22Z
Weaknesses
No weakness.