CVE-2026-23089

ALSA: usb-audio: Fix use-after-free in snd_usb_mixer_free()

Published Feb 4, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ALSA: usb-audio: Fix use-after-free in snd_usb_mixer_free()

When snd_usb_create_mixer() fails, snd_usb_mixer_free() frees
mixer->id_elems but the controls already added to the card still
reference the freed memory. Later when snd_card_register() runs,
the OSS mixer layer calls their callbacks and hits a use-after-free read.

Call trace:
get_ctl_value+0x63f/0x820 sound/usb/mixer.c:411
get_min_max_with_quirks.isra.0+0x240/0x1f40 sound/usb/mixer.c:1241
mixer_ctl_feature_info+0x26b/0x490 sound/usb/mixer.c:1381
snd_mixer_oss_build_test+0x174/0x3a0 sound/core/oss/mixer_oss.c:887
...
snd_card_register+0x4ed/0x6d0 sound/core/init.c:923
usb_audio_probe+0x5ef/0x2a90 sound/usb/card.c:1025

Fix by calling snd_ctl_remove() for all mixer controls before freeing
id_elems. We save the next pointer first because snd_ctl_remove()
frees the current element.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4475-1 linux security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4476-1 linux-6.1 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6126-1 linux security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6127-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8162-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8180-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8180-2 Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8186-1 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8187-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8188-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8180-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8180-4 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8180-5 Linux kernel (IBM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8243-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8180-6 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8275-1 Linux kernel (Xilinx ZynqMP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8278-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8289-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8296-1 Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8297-1 Linux kernel (GCP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8296-2 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8278-2 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8440-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8499-1 Linux kernel (Xilinx) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8570-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8594-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8604-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8605-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8570-2 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8289-2 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8393-1 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8669-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ALSA: usb-audio: Fix use-after-free in snd_usb_mixer_free() When snd_usb_create_mixer() fails, snd_usb_mixer_free() frees mixer->id_elems but the controls already added to the card still reference the freed memory. Later when snd_card_register() runs, the OSS mixer layer calls their callbacks and hits a use-after-free read. Call trace: get_ctl_value+0x63f/0x820 sound/usb/mixer.c:411 get_min_max_with_quirks.isra.0+0x240/0x1f40 sound/usb/mixer.c:1241 mixer_ctl_feature_info+0x26b/0x490 sound/usb/mixer.c:1381 snd_mixer_oss_build_test+0x174/0x3a0 sound/core/oss/mixer_oss.c:887 ... snd_card_register+0x4ed/0x6d0 sound/core/init.c:923 usb_audio_probe+0x5ef/0x2a90 sound/usb/card.c:1025 Fix by calling snd_ctl_remove() for all mixer controls before freeing id_elems. We save the next pointer first because snd_ctl_remove() frees the current element.
Title ALSA: usb-audio: Fix use-after-free in snd_usb_mixer_free()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 19, 2026, 6:25 PM
Reserved
Jan 13, 2026, 3:37 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Feb 4, 2026, 5:16 PM
Modified
Oct 19, 2026, 7:17 PM
Severity
Low
Public date
Feb 4, 2026, 12:00 AM