CVE-2026-68201

Local code execution via undrained slave callback

Published Aug 10, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel ALSA timer allows local users to crash the system or execute arbitrary code through a timer race. The snd_timer_close_locked() path severs a master's slave links without draining in-flight slave callbacks, so later slave closure skips the drain and frees memory beneath a live callback. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a callback race; successful abuse reaches kernel memory and can cause a crash or arbitrary code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
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 timer allows local users to crash the system or execute arbitrary code through a timer race. The snd_timer_close_locked() path severs a master's slave links without draining in-flight slave callbacks, so later slave closure skips the drain and frees memory beneath a live callback. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a callback race; successful abuse reaches kernel memory and can cause a crash or arbitrary code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-68201
Published
Aug 10, 2026
Updated
Aug 10, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-825, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 10, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 10, 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=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <2b298997786876b225cff2446e11a0fa6f602f6d
  2. Affected versionversion=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <426c0ff1c433d6030610ad4f9375746dfe931caa
  3. Affected versionversion=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <bdefe1346a8e6b8dc8593406dc2617e985fcbcab
  4. Affected versionversion=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <cd461bcfcdf8d6b6b5365941c1d3859f8bc77aa0
  5. Affected versionversion=6.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <2b298997786876b225cff2446e11a0fa6f602f6d; version=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <426c0ff1c433d6030610ad4f9375746dfe931caa; version=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <bdefe1346a8e6b8dc8593406dc2617e985fcbcab; version=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <cd461bcfcdf8d6b6b5365941c1d3859f8bc77aa0; version=6.12

Published CVSS scores

7.3Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H
7.8CVE.orgCVSS: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-825Expired Pointer Dereference
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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