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CVE Record

CVE-2026-23089: ALSA: usb-audio: Fix use-after-free in snd_usb_mixer_free()

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.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-23089 is a Linux kernel USB audio bug where cleanup after a failed mixer setup can leave controls pointing at freed memory. The published data does not provide CVSS, confirmed exploitation, or business impact beyond kernel memory safety risk.

Executive priority

Treat this as a kernel maintenance issue unless your environment exposes untrusted USB device access at scale. Prioritize normal kernel update cycles, with faster action for shared workstations, labs, kiosks, or systems accepting external peripherals.

Technical view

The flaw is a use-after-free read in ALSA usb-audio. If snd_usb_create_mixer() fails, snd_usb_mixer_free() frees mixer->id_elems while already-added card controls can still reference it. Later snd_card_register() triggers OSS mixer callbacks and reaches freed memory. Stable fixes remove mixer controls before freeing id_elems.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most plausible on Linux systems running affected kernel versions with USB audio support and relevant device probing. The source bundle does not establish remote exposure, privilege requirements, or affected distribution package versions.

Exploitation context

The source bundle says KEV is false and provides no report of active exploitation or public exploit availability. The described path depends on USB audio mixer creation failure and later control callback execution.

Researcher notes

The evidence identifies the failing cleanup path and fix strategy, but lacks CVSS, exploitability analysis, and distro mapping. Validate against exact kernel source or vendor changelog rather than assuming upstream version strings directly match deployed packages.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade to a kernel build containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for backported fixes and package-specific versions.
  • Restrict untrusted physical USB device access where practical.
  • Disable unused USB audio support on high-assurance systems if vendor-supported.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions on servers, endpoints, appliances, and embedded systems.
  • Identify systems where USB audio drivers or physical USB device access are relevant.
  • Confirm vendor kernel packages include one of the referenced stable fixes.
  • Review kernel logs for USB audio probe or mixer-related failures.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
9

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2026-23089 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
8Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux6639b6c2367f884ca172b78d69f7da17bfab2e5e, 6639b6c2367f884ca172b78d69f7da17bfab2e5e, 6639b6c2367f884ca172b78d69f7da17bfab2e5e, 6639b6c2367f884ca172b78d69f7da17bfab2e5e, 6639b6c2367f884ca172b78d69f7da17bfab2e5e, 6639b6c2367f884ca172b78d69f7da17bfab2e5e, 6639b6c2367f884ca172b78d69f7da17bfab2e5eunaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.13, 0, 5.10.249, 5.15.199, 6.1.162, 6.6.122, 6.12.68, 6.18.8, 6.19affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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