CVE-2026-64488

Kernel crash via unchecked control allocation

Published Jul 25, 2026 · Updated Jul 25, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in affected Linux Kernel releases beginning with 2.6.18 allows local users to crash systems through ALSA AOA layout handling. The layout.c control setup calls snd_ctl_new1() but dereferences ctl->id.name and passes the result to aoa_snd_ctl_add() without checking for a NULL allocation result. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access and a failed control allocation; the bounded consequence is a kernel crash and service interruption.

CVSS severity4.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in affected Linux Kernel releases beginning with 2.6.18 allows local users to crash systems through ALSA AOA layout handling. The layout.c control setup calls snd_ctl_new1() but dereferences ctl->id.name and passes the result to aoa_snd_ctl_add() without checking for a NULL allocation result. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access and a failed control allocation; the bounded consequence is a kernel crash and service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-64488
Published
Jul 25, 2026
Updated
Jul 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 25, 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=2.6.18
  2. Affected versionversion=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <2ee9c46fd2dcd529cef18e37636ee12f5c3dbedd
  3. Affected versionversion=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <8df560fefe6fed6a20b7e06720eeaeccec349ac0
  4. Affected versionversion=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <b0154ebc6dc552c389a574b1e221d728e10346e7
  5. Affected versionversion=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <d62624fe256b2d0d13454c78cbfc70ff5d954dc7
  6. Affected versionversion=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <d73067e2bbf3775a495d9f38e38d0a3cf53ee790
  7. Affected versionversion=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <e47f2a341adbac001b6f5d0211b0cd1c1668637b
  8. Affected versionversion=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <e5e8c4508d95af82f9b4d065f658e5476a8e9bc8
  9. Affected versionversion=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <fd786466889e4a6e6de0f4462bd0068edea63960

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=2.6.18; version=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <2ee9c46fd2dcd529cef18e37636ee12f5c3dbedd; version=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <8df560fefe6fed6a20b7e06720eeaeccec349ac0; version=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <b0154ebc6dc552c389a574b1e221d728e10346e7; version=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <d62624fe256b2d0d13454c78cbfc70ff5d954dc7; version=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <d73067e2bbf3775a495d9f38e38d0a3cf53ee790; version=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <e47f2a341adbac001b6f5d0211b0cd1c1668637b; version=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <e5e8c4508d95af82f9b4d065f658e5476a8e9bc8; version=f3d9478b2ce468c3115b02ecae7e975990697f15 <fd786466889e4a6e6de0f4462bd0068edea63960

Published CVSS scores

4.7Amazon LinuxCVSS: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

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

T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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