CVE-2026-89979: ALSA: pcm: Fix race between non-atomic ops and trigger-start

Q: What conditions are required to trigger the race?

Concurrent operations on the same PCM stream are required. One thread must perform a non-atomic operation such as PREPARE or HW_PARAMS while another thread issues a PCM trigger-start during that operation, including re-preparing or reconfiguring an already prepared stream.

Q: Which PCM trigger operation is implicated?

The issue specifically concerns PCM start, because it can operate from the PREPARED state. Other trigger commands, such as stop, are filtered by their state preconditions and are not identified as the problematic concurrent operation.

Q: What symptoms could indicate exposure?

The reported impact is inconsistent PCM state handling, with an ODEBUG warning cited as an example. The available information does not identify a definitive user-visible failure signature.

Q: What is the remediation?

Use a Linux kernel release that includes the ALSA PCM fix preventing trigger-start during non-atomic operations. The provided information does not specify the affected or fixed kernel versions.

Published Sep 16, 2026

Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ALSA: pcm: Fix race between non-atomic ops and trigger-start

We protect the races of the concurrent state transitions between atomic PCM ops, but the checks between the non-atomic ops (hwparams, hwfree and prepare) and the atomic ops aren't perfect; there is a check of the conflicting PCM state at the beginning of hwparams & co, but the atomic PCM ops can be still issued during the non-atomic PCM operations. An example such scenario is that a thread A re-issues the PREPARE or HWPARAMS for the already prepared stream, while another thread B triggers the PCM start in the middle of the prepare operation. Although this usually doesn't lead to much serious issues, it can give some inconsistency as reported by syzkaller (such as ODEBUG warning).

There are various atomic PCM ops, and basically the only problem is the PCM start as it operates from the PREPARED state. Other trigger commands (stop, etc) are for the running or the other special state, hence they are filtered as pre-condition.

This patch is for preventing the PCM trigger-start during the non- atomic operations in order to address the problems above. Fortunately, the hwparams, hwfree and prepare operations call sndpcmbufferaccesslock(), and this can be used for checking the concurrent operations at the PCM trigger -- which sets the runtime->bufferaccessing to a negative (if possible), so the PCM trigger just needs to check the runtime->bufferaccessing value; if it's negative, it means the concurrent non-atomic PCM ops is running.

Affected Software

264 affected componentsFixes available

Linux kernel ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) pcm

debian/linux<=6.1.176-1, <=6.12.107-1

6.1.190-16.12.115-27.2.12-17.2.15-1

debian/linux-6.12

6.12.113-1~deb12u1

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-oem*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15<5.15.0-1119.126~20.04.1

5.15.0-1119.126~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15<5.15.0-1125.134~20.04.1

5.15.0-1125.134~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15<5.15.0-1124.133~20.04.1

5.15.0-1124.133~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-bluefield*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15<5.15.0-1120.130~20.04.1

5.15.0-1120.130~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-202.212~20.04.1

5.15.0-202.212~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-ibm*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15<5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.1

5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15<5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1

5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-iot*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-197.207~20.04.1

5.15.0-197.207~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15<5.15.0-1070.72~20.04.1

5.15.0-1070.72~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15<5.15.0-1116.122~20.04.1

5.15.0-1116.122~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-raspi2*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15<5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.2

5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.2

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux<5.15.0-202.212

5.15.0-202.212

ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws<5.15.0-1119.126

5.15.0-1119.126

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure<5.15.0-1125.134

5.15.0-1125.134

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<5.15.0-1124.133

5.15.0-1124.133

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.15.0-1120.130

5.15.0-1120.130

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-gke<5.15.0-1115.121

5.15.0-1115.121

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<5.15.0-1102.110

5.15.0-1102.110

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.15.0-1113.117

5.15.0-1113.117

ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg<5.15.0-1114.120

5.15.0-1114.120

ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.15.0-1111.116

5.15.0-1111.116

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<5.15.0-197.207

5.15.0-197.207

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<5.15.0-1114.115

5.15.0-1114.115

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<5.15.0-1070.72

5.15.0-1070.72

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx<5.15.0-1059.59

5.15.0-1059.59

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.15.0-1116.122

5.15.0-1116.122

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.15.0-1103.105

5.15.0-1103.105

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime<5.15.0-1111.115

5.15.0-1111.115

ubuntu/linux-realtime<5.15.0-1118.127

5.15.0-1118.127

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<5.15.0-1119.126+fips1

5.15.0-1119.126+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.15.0-1125.134+fips1

5.15.0-1125.134+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips<5.15.0-202.212+fips1

5.15.0-202.212+fips1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.15.0-1120.130+fips1

5.15.0-1120.130+fips1

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0<7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1

7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-ibm*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0<7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1

7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-xilinx*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux<7.0.0-42.42

7.0.0-42.42

ubuntu/linux-aws<7.0.0-1016.17

7.0.0-1016.17

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<7.0.0-1016.18

7.0.0-1016.18

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<7.0.0-1017.17

7.0.0-1017.17

ubuntu/linux-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bos*

ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0<7.0.0-1017.17

7.0.0-1017.17

ubuntu/linux-oracle<7.0.0-1015.16

7.0.0-1015.16

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv<7.0.0-42.42.1

7.0.0-42.42.1

linux/kernel>=2.6.12<5.10.270

5.10.270

linux/kernel>=5.11.0<5.15.221

5.15.221

linux/kernel>=5.16.0<6.1.188

6.1.188

linux/kernel>=6.2.0<6.6.157

6.6.157

linux/kernel>=6.7.0<6.12.110

6.12.110

linux/kernel>=6.13.0<6.18.51

6.18.51

linux/kernel>=6.19.0<7.2.5

7.2.5

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.1.190-1Fixed in 6.12.115-2Fixed in 7.2.12-1Fixed in 7.2.15-1
Upgrade
Upgrade debian/linux-6.12 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.12.113-1~deb12u1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1119.126~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1125.134~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1124.133~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1120.130~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-202.212~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-197.207~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1070.72~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1116.122~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-202.212
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1119.126
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1125.134
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1124.133
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1120.130
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1115.121
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1102.110
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1113.117
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.116
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-197.207
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.115
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1070.72
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1059.59
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1116.122
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1103.105
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.127
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1119.126+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1125.134+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-202.212+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1120.130+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.17
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.18
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.16
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.10.270
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.221
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.1.188
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.6.157
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.12.110
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.18.51
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.2.5

Event History

Sep 16, 2026

CVE Published

via MITRE·10:32 AM

Data Sourced

via MITRE·10:32 AM

DescriptionSeverity

Data Sourced

via OSV·10:32 AM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Data Sourced

via NVD·11:17 AM

DescriptionSeverity

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

DSA-6528

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions are required to trigger the race?

Concurrent operations on the same PCM stream are required. One thread must perform a non-atomic operation such as PREPARE or HW_PARAMS while another thread issues a PCM trigger-start during that operation, including re-preparing or reconfiguring an already prepared stream.

Which PCM trigger operation is implicated?

The issue specifically concerns PCM start, because it can operate from the PREPARED state. Other trigger commands, such as stop, are filtered by their state preconditions and are not identified as the problematic concurrent operation.

What symptoms could indicate exposure?

The reported impact is inconsistent PCM state handling, with an ODEBUG warning cited as an example. The available information does not identify a definitive user-visible failure signature.

What is the remediation?

Use a Linux kernel release that includes the ALSA PCM fix preventing trigger-start during non-atomic operations. The provided information does not specify the affected or fixed kernel versions.

CVE-2026-89979: ALSA: pcm: Fix race between non-atomic ops and trigger-start

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Parent advisories

Peer vulnerabilities

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions are required to trigger the race?

Which PCM trigger operation is implicated?

What symptoms could indicate exposure?

What is the remediation?

Company

Resources

Contact