CVE-2023-54072

Excess memory allocation via unsynchronized PCM limit check

Published Dec 24, 2025 · Updated Dec 24, 2025

Data race in Linux ALSA PCM memory helpers allows local users to exceed the configured buffer allocation limit through concurrent requests. The do_alloc_pages() helper checks and updates the card-wide allocation total without holding card->memory_mutex, so parallel allocations can pass the same limit check. Low-privileged local access and overlapping PCM allocation calls are required; memory use can exceed the soft cap but cannot grow without bound.

CVSS severity5.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Data race in Linux ALSA PCM memory helpers allows local users to exceed the configured buffer allocation limit through concurrent requests. The do_alloc_pages() helper checks and updates the card-wide allocation total without holding card->memory_mutex, so parallel allocations can pass the same limit check. Low-privileged local access and overlapping PCM allocation calls are required; memory use can exceed the soft cap but cannot grow without bound.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54072
Published
Dec 24, 2025
Updated
Dec 24, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 24, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 24, 2025Record 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 <3eb4e47a94e3f76521d7d344696db61e6a9619c7
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <773ccad902f67583a58b5650a2f8d8daf2e76fac
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <7e11c58b2620a22c67a5ae28d64ce383890ee9f4
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <7e1d1456c8db9949459c5a24e8845cfe92430b0f
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a0ab49e7a758b488b2090171a75d50735c0876f6
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <bd55842ed998a622ba6611fe59b3358c9f76773d

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <3eb4e47a94e3f76521d7d344696db61e6a9619c7; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <773ccad902f67583a58b5650a2f8d8daf2e76fac; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <7e11c58b2620a22c67a5ae28d64ce383890ee9f4; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <7e1d1456c8db9949459c5a24e8845cfe92430b0f; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a0ab49e7a758b488b2090171a75d50735c0876f6; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <bd55842ed998a622ba6611fe59b3358c9f76773d

Published CVSS scores

5.7SUSECVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
4.7SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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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

No sourced classifications are available.

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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