CVE-2026-43437

Local kernel compromise via ALSA linked-stream race

Published May 8, 2026 · Updated May 8, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux Kernel ALSA PCM drain path allows local users to compromise the kernel through a linked-stream race. snd_pcm_drain() releases a stream lock and then dereferences linked-runtime fields while a concurrent close can free that runtime. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access to ALSA PCM devices and can corrupt kernel memory, crash the system, or gain kernel-level control.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.13%
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 Kernel ALSA PCM drain path allows local users to compromise the kernel through a linked-stream race. snd_pcm_drain() releases a stream lock and then dereferences linked-runtime fields while a concurrent close can free that runtime. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access to ALSA PCM devices and can corrupt kernel memory, crash the system, or gain kernel-level control.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43437
Published
May 8, 2026
Updated
May 8, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 8, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=3.0
  2. Affected versionversion=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <4a758e9a1f5ed722f83c4dd35f867fe811553bcb
  3. Affected versionversion=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <629cf09464cf98670996ea5c191dc9743e6f3f00
  4. Affected versionversion=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <9b1dbd69ba6f8f8c69bc7b77c2ce3b9c6ed05ba6
  5. Affected versionversion=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <9baee36e8c5443411c4629afabafaff8a46a23fd
  6. Affected versionversion=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <ae8f8d30d334bad5b1b3cdb1eb8a0b771f55e432
  7. Affected versionversion=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <c2f64e05a0587a83ec42dbd6b7a7ded79b2ff694
  8. Affected versionversion=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <fc71f888994569f87d5bee20b1ac6c9c1e3a7a79

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=3.0; version=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <4a758e9a1f5ed722f83c4dd35f867fe811553bcb; version=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <629cf09464cf98670996ea5c191dc9743e6f3f00; version=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <9b1dbd69ba6f8f8c69bc7b77c2ce3b9c6ed05ba6; version=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <9baee36e8c5443411c4629afabafaff8a46a23fd; version=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <ae8f8d30d334bad5b1b3cdb1eb8a0b771f55e432; version=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <c2f64e05a0587a83ec42dbd6b7a7ded79b2ff694; version=f2b3614cefb61ee6046a0aaee503ee37f227d310 <fc71f888994569f87d5bee20b1ac6c9c1e3a7a79

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS: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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 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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