CVE-2026-74499: ALSA: usb-audio: fix OOB write in snd_usbmidi_akai_output()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ALSA: usb-audio: fix OOB write in sndusbmidiakaioutput()
sndusbmidiakaioutput() computes its fill-loop bound
bufend = ep->maxtransfer - MAXAKAISYSEXLEN - 1;
as a signed int, so a small device-advertised bulk-OUT maxtransfer makes bufend negative. The loop guard then compares the u32 urb->transferbufferlength against that negative int: the usual arithmetic conversion turns bufend into a large unsigned value, so the guard stays true and each iteration keeps appending SysEx framing and payload bytes past the end of the URB transfer buffer, which is only maxtransfer bytes long.
A USB device that advertises a tiny bulk-OUT endpoint can therefore trigger an attacker-length- and content-controlled heap out-of-bounds write when a process writes to the created /dev/snd/midiCD node.
Return early when there is no room for even one SysEx, so the loop is never entered with a bound that would wrap. The loop is the last statement of the function, so bailing out is equivalent to it not running.
Discovered by XBOW, triaged by Baul Lee <baul.lee@xbow.com>
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Linux kernel (snd-usbmidi_akai)to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Patch ALSA: usb-audio: fix OOB write in snd_usbmidi_akai_output()
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-74499?
CVE-2026-74499 has a severity score of 65.
How do I fix CVE-2026-74499?
To fix CVE-2026-74499, update your Linux kernel to the latest version where the vulnerability is patched.
What systems are affected by CVE-2026-74499?
CVE-2026-74499 affects the ALSA USB audio subsystem in the Linux kernel.
What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-74499?
CVE-2026-74499 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability.
What component of the Linux kernel is impacted by CVE-2026-74499?
CVE-2026-74499 impacts the snd_usbmidi_akai_output() function in the USB audio driver.