CVE-2022-49291

Local privilege escalation via concurrent PCM ioctls

Published Feb 26, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux ALSA PCM core allows local users to gain kernel privileges or crash the host via PCM device ioctls. Concurrent hw_params and hw_free calls can reallocate or release the same PCM DMA buffer because the ioctl paths lack a shared mutex, leaving stale kernel references. Reachability requires local access to a PCM device, such as an audio-group membership or seat ACL; successful exploitation can control kernel execution, while failed attempts can panic the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux ALSA PCM core allows local users to gain kernel privileges or crash the host via PCM device ioctls. Concurrent hw_params and hw_free calls can reallocate or release the same PCM DMA buffer because the ioctl paths lack a shared mutex, leaving stale kernel references. Reachability requires local access to a PCM device, such as an audio-group membership or seat ACL; successful exploitation can control kernel execution, while failed attempts can panic the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-49291
Published
Feb 26, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 26, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0090c13cbbdffd7da079ac56f80373a9a1be0bf8
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0f6947f5f5208f6ebd4d76a82a4757e2839a23f8
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <1bbf82d9f961414d6c76a08f7f843ea068e0ab7b
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <33061d0fba51d2bf70a2ef9645f703c33fe8e438
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <92ee3c60ec9fe64404dc035e7c41277d74aa26cb
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9cb6c40a6ebe4a0cfc9d6a181958211682cffea9
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a42aa926843acca96c0dfbde2e835b8137f2f092
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <fbeb492694ce0441053de57699e1e2b7bc148a69
  9. Affected versionversion=2.6.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0090c13cbbdffd7da079ac56f80373a9a1be0bf8; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0f6947f5f5208f6ebd4d76a82a4757e2839a23f8; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <1bbf82d9f961414d6c76a08f7f843ea068e0ab7b; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <33061d0fba51d2bf70a2ef9645f703c33fe8e438; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <92ee3c60ec9fe64404dc035e7c41277d74aa26cb; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9cb6c40a6ebe4a0cfc9d6a181958211682cffea9; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a42aa926843acca96c0dfbde2e835b8137f2f092; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <fbeb492694ce0441053de57699e1e2b7bc148a69; version=2.6.12

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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