CVE-2026-68201: ALSA: timer: drain a slave's callback before its master detaches it
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ALSA: timer: drain a slave's callback before its master detaches it
sndtimercloselocked() drains the closing instance's own in-flight callback (IFLGCALLBACK) before freeing it, but not its slaves'. When a master instance is closed, removeslavelinks() clears each slave's ->timer; the slave's own close then reads timer == NULL and takes the branch that skips the drain entirely (sndtimerstopslave() also no-ops on a NULL timer). So a slave whose callback is still running when the master is closed is freed underneath the live callback, leading to use-after-free.
Drain the slaves too before removeslavelinks() severs them. sndtimerstop() has already taken this instance off the active list, so no new slave callback can be queued. Take the slaves off the ack list so a pending one can't fire either, then wait for any that is already in flight.
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-68201?
CVE-2026-68201 has a risk rating of 46, indicating a significant vulnerability.
How do I fix CVE-2026-68201?
To fix CVE-2026-68201, update the Linux kernel to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched.
What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-68201?
CVE-2026-68201 is classified as a Use After Free vulnerability in the ALSA subsystem of the Linux kernel.
What impact does CVE-2026-68201 have on the Linux kernel?
CVE-2026-68201 may allow an attacker to exploit a race condition, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes.
When was CVE-2026-68201 published?
CVE-2026-68201 was published on August 10, 2026.