Ubuntu released kernel and Hardware Enablement (HWE) updates for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, including Azure kernel packages, to remediate CVE-2019-19524 and numerous other kernel vulnerabilities. CVE-2019-19524 affects the force-feedback memless input driver in drivers/input/ff-memless.c before Linux kernel 5.3.12; a malicious USB device could trigger a use-after-free condition, potentially causing denial of service or code execution.
The upstream fix, commit fa3a5a1880c91bb92594ad42dfe9eedad7996b86, synchronously deletes the driver's ml->timer during device destruction so it cannot remain active after the input device is removed. Ubuntu's related advisories also address flaws in SMB/CIFS, wireless, USB, network, Binder IPC, tracing, and other drivers, with impacts including kernel-memory disclosure, crashes, arbitrary-file overwrite, and potential arbitrary code execution; affected systems should install the applicable standard, HWE, or Azure kernel updates.

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The CVE record for CVE-2019-19524 was updated, retaining references to the upstream fix and downstream distribution advisories.
CVE-2019-19524 was published for a use-after-free vulnerability in Linux's drivers/input/ff-memless.c, affecting kernels before version 5.3.12. A malicious USB device can trigger the flaw, potentially causing a crash or arbitrary code execution.
Oliver Neukum authored Linux commit fa3a5a1880c91bb92594ad42dfe9eedad7996b86, adding del_timer_sync() to ml_ff_destroy() so the memless driver timer is stopped before its private state is freed. Dmitry Torokhov committed the patch, which was marked for stable-kernel consideration.
Ubuntu issued kernel updates through USN-4225, USN-4226, USN-4227, and USN-4228, including HWE and Azure-related updates, to address CVE-2019-19524 and other kernel flaws. openSUSE, Slackware, and Debian LTS also issued related security advisories.
syzbot reported and tested an issue in the Linux force-feedback memless input driver where an active timer could access freed state after device teardown.
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