Linux · Kernel
CVE-2023-0266
Use after free in SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM in Linux Kernel
What it is
A use after free vulnerability exists in the ALSA PCM package in the Linux Kernel. SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_{READ|WRITE}32 is missing locks that can be used in a use-after-free that can result in a priviledge escalation to gain ring0 access from the system user. We recommend upgrading past commit 56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c83927b7ebb055e
CISA: Linux kernel contains a use-after-free vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation to gain ring0 access from the system user.
What to do
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Deadline for US federal agencies: April 20, 2023
- Added to the CISA list
- March 30, 2023
- Published
- January 30, 2023
- Severity
- High 7.9 CVSS 3.1
- Chance of attacks in the next 30 days (EPSS)
- 3.7% in the top 10.4% of all known vulnerabilities
- Weakness
- CWE-416
- More details
- NVD · CVE.org · CISA
All references (4)
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/becf9e5d553c2389d857a3c178ce80fdb34a02e1
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/stable-queue.git/tree/queue-5.10/alsa-pcm-move-rwsem-l…
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c83927b7ebb055e
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/05/msg00006.html
More exploited flaws from Linux
| Added | Vulnerability | Product | Severity | Attack chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2026 | Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions | Kernel | Critical 9.8 | 3.3% |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Race Condition | Kernel | High 7.8 | 1.6% |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Out-of-Bounds Write | Kernel | High 8.8 | 0.9% |
| Aug 27, 2026 | Unspecified | Kernel | High 7.8 | 0.7% |
| Aug 26, 2026 | Out-of-Bounds Write | Kernel | High 7.8 | 8.9% |
| Jun 2, 2026 | Improper Authentication | Kernel | High 7.8 | 5.5% |
| May 1, 2026 | Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres | Kernel | High 7.8 | 98% |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Integer Overflow | Kernel | High 7.8 | 15% |
Sources: Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (CISA, public domain), CVE records (cve.org) and EPSS (FIRST). The chance of attacks is the EPSS estimate that someone will try to exploit the flaw in the next 30 days.