CVE-2026-46004

Kernel memory corruption via continued failed probe

Published May 27, 2026 · Updated May 27, 2026

Use-after-free in the ALSA caiaq driver in Linux Kernel allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during USB device probing. The setup_card() error path calls snd_card_free() after snd_card_register() fails but continues into snd_usb_caiaq_control_init() instead of returning the error, so later code accesses the freed card. The vulnerable path requires a caiaq USB audio device and an snd_card_register() failure; public sources do not establish attacker control of that failure.

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 ALSA caiaq driver in Linux Kernel allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during USB device probing. The setup_card() error path calls snd_card_free() after snd_card_register() fails but continues into snd_usb_caiaq_control_init() instead of returning the error, so later code accesses the freed card. The vulnerable path requires a caiaq USB audio device and an snd_card_register() failure; public sources do not establish attacker control of that failure.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-46004
Published
May 27, 2026
Updated
May 27, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 27, 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=2.6.25
  2. Affected versionversion=8e3cd08ed8e590952aa9a656758cb24d4ba898f8 <096dd8519cf2f768e9e14f224b627f7aaee1a9c5
  3. Affected versionversion=8e3cd08ed8e590952aa9a656758cb24d4ba898f8 <28abd224db4a49560b452115bca3672a20e45b2f
  4. Affected versionversion=8e3cd08ed8e590952aa9a656758cb24d4ba898f8 <6251e3e256337a30160ef59ab1580dde4d1acd28
  5. Affected versionversion=8e3cd08ed8e590952aa9a656758cb24d4ba898f8 <e59ecd4ee3a450db6cb4e4ecaa3efdd593f80056
  6. Affected versionversion=8e3cd08ed8e590952aa9a656758cb24d4ba898f8 <f537e3ad69609f6924a4db6b4a7f6561f5288bdd

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=2.6.25; version=8e3cd08ed8e590952aa9a656758cb24d4ba898f8 <096dd8519cf2f768e9e14f224b627f7aaee1a9c5; version=8e3cd08ed8e590952aa9a656758cb24d4ba898f8 <28abd224db4a49560b452115bca3672a20e45b2f; version=8e3cd08ed8e590952aa9a656758cb24d4ba898f8 <6251e3e256337a30160ef59ab1580dde4d1acd28; version=8e3cd08ed8e590952aa9a656758cb24d4ba898f8 <e59ecd4ee3a450db6cb4e4ecaa3efdd593f80056; version=8e3cd08ed8e590952aa9a656758cb24d4ba898f8 <f537e3ad69609f6924a4db6b4a7f6561f5288bdd

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS: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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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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