CVE-2026-74504

CPU hang via overflowing timer resolution product

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Divide by zero in the Linux kernel ALSA sequencer allows local users to hang a CPU through a crafted userspace timer. initialize_timer() multiplies the attacker-controlled 64-bit resolution by the update frequency without detecting overflow, then divides by the wrapped product, which can be zero. Reachability requires unprivileged access to /dev/snd/timer and /dev/snd/seq; the fault occurs with interrupts disabled and leaves tmr->lock held.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
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

Divide by zero in the Linux kernel ALSA sequencer allows local users to hang a CPU through a crafted userspace timer. initialize_timer() multiplies the attacker-controlled 64-bit resolution by the update frequency without detecting overflow, then divides by the wrapped product, which can be zero. Reachability requires unprivileged access to /dev/snd/timer and /dev/snd/seq; the fault occurs with interrupts disabled and leaves tmr->lock held.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-74504
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-369, T1499.004
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=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <21e19688433452dfbbbe6b2bb670dea6eb92f0f6
  2. Affected versionversion=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <42c6543ff27ea280334244458d4f52ec7133cc05
  3. Affected versionversion=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <5260e195c53e898a4a76527d4bb2178f31795e78
  4. Affected versionversion=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <d0e19932875746118e298b4c974f3b2d4aeb16fc
  5. Affected versionversion=6.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <21e19688433452dfbbbe6b2bb670dea6eb92f0f6; version=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <42c6543ff27ea280334244458d4f52ec7133cc05; version=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <5260e195c53e898a4a76527d4bb2178f31795e78; version=37745918e0e7575bc40f38da93a99b9fa6406224 <d0e19932875746118e298b4c974f3b2d4aeb16fc; version=6.12

Published CVSS scores

5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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

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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-369Divide By Zero
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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