CVE-2026-74503

Kernel memory corruption via stale ALSA timer instance

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux ALSA timer subsystem allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through crafted timer and sequencer operations. snd_timer_close_locked() leaves SNDRV_TIMER_IFLG_DEAD set after a completed close, so a reopened instance bypasses unlinking and is freed while still linked on timer lists. Exploitation requires unprivileged access to /dev/snd/timer and /dev/snd/seq; later timer opens or /proc/asound/timers reads dereference the stale object, causing a kernel fault and enabling kernel-memory compromise.

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 ALSA timer subsystem allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through crafted timer and sequencer operations. snd_timer_close_locked() leaves SNDRV_TIMER_IFLG_DEAD set after a completed close, so a reopened instance bypasses unlinking and is freed while still linked on timer lists. Exploitation requires unprivileged access to /dev/snd/timer and /dev/snd/seq; later timer opens or /proc/asound/timers reads dereference the stale object, causing a kernel fault and enabling kernel-memory compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-74503
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 15, 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=586b219a22b1032b28b8bd356b963276c5e5bf53 <bb016091010ec401a06e6bdace0cd944ee03d371
  2. Affected versionversion=60e73ab87b84bbd6bd7ddd1d16019a3a3705ab8f
  3. Affected versionversion=6.12.94 <6.12.103
  4. Affected versionversion=6.18.36 <6.18.44
  5. Affected versionversion=7.0.13 <7.1
  6. Affected versionversion=7.1
  7. Affected versionversion=da3039e91d1f835874ed6e9a33ea19ee80c2cb92 <0c561fab50991df10b1e4daca25886c34a2a9c07
  8. Affected versionversion=da3039e91d1f835874ed6e9a33ea19ee80c2cb92 <c2744d5f3aea474513fd2298daecb94a952ce441
  9. Affected versionversion=f46093dd22969037beb1fce2e043f3236be41c92 <a26a2e52736f9e39843ca66a2e1ce6bf1adbcd1e

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=586b219a22b1032b28b8bd356b963276c5e5bf53 <bb016091010ec401a06e6bdace0cd944ee03d371; version=60e73ab87b84bbd6bd7ddd1d16019a3a3705ab8f; version=6.12.94 <6.12.103; version=6.18.36 <6.18.44; version=7.0.13 <7.1; version=7.1; version=da3039e91d1f835874ed6e9a33ea19ee80c2cb92 <0c561fab50991df10b1e4daca25886c34a2a9c07; version=da3039e91d1f835874ed6e9a33ea19ee80c2cb92 <c2744d5f3aea474513fd2298daecb94a952ce441; version=f46093dd22969037beb1fce2e043f3236be41c92 <a26a2e52736f9e39843ca66a2e1ce6bf1adbcd1e

Published CVSS scores

7.0Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8LinuxCVSS: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

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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

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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