CVE Catalog

CVE-2026-98837

Low risk· EPSS 10%
Published: Updated: Translated: NVD NIST

Exploitation Probability (EPSS)

Low risk
0.20%

10th percentile - higher than 10% of all known CVEs

Summary

In the Linux kernel, the ALSA caiaq driver registers an input device in setup_card(), but if snd_card_register() or snd_usb_caiaq_control_init() fails, snd_card_free() frees the device state without unregistering the input device. A subsequent read of the "uevent" attribute then dereferences freed memory (use-after-free).

Risk Assessment

Can lead to kernel memory disclosure or system crash (panic) when a faulty USB audio device is plugged in. Requires physical access to a USB port.

Recommendation

Update the Linux kernel to a version containing the fix that unregisters the input device on the probe error path. If updating is not possible, restrict access to unused USB ports.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

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Original NVD description (English source)

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ALSA: caiaq: unregister the input device when probe fails setup_card() registers the input device, whose name and phys point into struct snd_usb_caiaqdev, and then goes on to snd_card_register() and snd_usb_caiaq_control_init(). If either fails, snd_probe() calls snd_card_free(), which frees the device state but leaves the input device registered: card_free() only clears the pointer, and the input device is unregistered from snd_disconnect() alone. Reading its "uevent" attribute afterwards dereferences freed memory: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in string+0x4a9/0x4f0 Read of size 1 at addr ffff8880208f5043 by task caiaq/4967 add_uevent_var+0x183/0x3a0 input_dev_uevent+0x162/0x900 dev_uevent+0x2f1/0x870 uevent_show+0x1ca/0x3a0 ... Unregister the input device on the probe error path, as snd_disconnect() does. snd_usb_caiaq_input_disconnect() is a no-op when no input device was registered. Reproduced with a raw-gadget Audio Kontrol 1 and a temporary hack that makes snd_usb_caiaq_control_init() fail.

Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS