HighCVE-2026-46090

    Linux Kernel: Use After Free (CVE-2026-46090)

    Published Last modified Sources: Debian LTS, BSI, SUSE, Ubuntu, Red Hat, EUVD, Msrc Update Guide, CVE.org

    Share

    What is affected, what to do

    A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) aloop driver. This Use-After-Free (UAF) vulnerability occurs when loopback_check_format() stops the capture side during a format change, while a concurrent close operation detaches or frees the runtime.

    Update Linux Kernel to version 5.10.259, Linux Kernel to version 5.15.210, Linux Kernel to version 6.1.188.

    Affected
    • Linux Kernel lt 2.6.37..5.10.259
    • Linux Kernel lt 5.11..5.15.210
    • Linux Kernel lt 5.16..6.1.188
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.2..6.6.157
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.7..6.12.88
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.13..6.18.27
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.19..7.0.4
    Fixed in
    • Linux Kernel 5.10.259
    • Linux Kernel 5.15.210
    • Linux Kernel 6.1.188
    • Linux Kernel 6.6.157
    • Linux Kernel 6.12.88
    • Linux Kernel 6.18.27
    • Linux Kernel 7.0.4
    • Linux Kernel 7.1

    Not sure whether and how you are affected? Ask a question about this vulnerability

    Metrics

    7.8

    Priority

    XIEM Effective CVSS: highest available CVSS rating from NVD and vendor data.

    Source: Vendor (CNA), CVSS v3

    7.8

    CVSS v3

    Severity High on the scale from 0 to 10.

    Source: Debian LTS, BSI, SUSE, Ubuntu, Red Hat, EUVD, Msrc Update Guide, CVE.org

    0.1 %

    EPSS score

    Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.

    Source: FIRST EPSS, percentile 1.0

    Show all metrics
    Severity
    High
    Priority (0–325)

    The priority score is a consolidated metric that condenses several individual signals into a single, action-guiding ranking: technical severity (CVSS), exploitation likelihood (EPSS), known-exploited status (KEV) and the context of the affected asset. The aim is to answer the only truly important question in vulnerability management: what first?

    Read in glossary
    56.81 Methodology
    Exploit maturity

    An exploit is code or a technique that specifically uses a concrete vulnerability to force unintended behaviour — such as executing code or escalating privileges. It is the tool that turns a theoretical flaw into a practical attack.

    Read in glossary
    no public PoC known
    XIEM Effective CVSS

    XIEM® is the tiered managed-security operating model from NEOSEC and a registered trademark of NEOSEC GmbH. It extends classic SIEM — the central collection, normalisation and correlation of security-relevant events — with endpoint forensics, network visibility and deception technology, and consolidates them into three building tiers: Sentry, Orchestrate and Command.

    Read in glossary
    7.8 Methodology
    CVSS v3

    CVSS is the globally established, open standard for assessing the technical severity of a vulnerability on a scale from 0 to 10. It describes how easily a flaw can be exploited and what damage it can cause — but not how likely its actual exploitation is. CVSS and the complementary EPSS deliberately answer different questions.

    Read in glossary
    7.8
    EPSS score

    The EPSS score is the absolute model output for an individual vulnerability: the estimated probability of real-world exploitation within the next 30 days, expressed as a value between 0 and 1 (i.e. 0 % to 100 %). A score of 0.42 means „the model estimates a 42 % chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days“.

    Read in glossary
    0.1 %
    Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.
    EPSS percentile

    The EPSS percentile is the relative position of a vulnerability within all EPSS-scored CVEs, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A percentile of 0.90 means „this CVE has a higher EPSS score than 90 % of all other scored CVEs“. Unlike the EPSS score, it is not a probability — but a positioning within a ranking.

    Read in glossary
    1.0
    Low — this CVE sits in the lower 10% of all CVEs scored today.
    KEV status

    The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.

    Read in glossary
    —
    Published
    CISA assessment (SSVC)
    Exploitation: none known · not automatable · Technical impact: total
    Source: CISA Vulnrichment, as of 16 October 2026
    CWE

    CWE is a catalogue of typical weakness types in software and hardware — such as flawed input validation, unsafe memory handling or poor authentication. Where a CVE names a concrete vulnerability in a concrete product, a CWE describes the underlying class of defect.

    Read in glossary
    CWE-416

    Detection rules

    No NEOSEC detection rule is available for this vulnerability yet.

    Classification under NIS2 and CRA

    Rule-based classification from exploitation status and severity. It does not replace a case-by-case assessment.

    NIS2

    NIS2 is EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 to raise the level of cybersecurity across the Union. It substantially broadens obligations compared with the first NIS directive: more sectors, mandatory risk management, staged reporting duties and personal accountability of senior management.

    Read in glossary
    High technical severity: assess and remediate the vulnerability in vulnerability handling under Art. 21(2)(e) NIS2 and document the decision.
    CRA

    The CRA is EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 setting horizontal cybersecurity requirements for „products with digital elements“ — from industrial controllers and software to connected consumer devices. For the first time manufacturers must ensure security across the entire product lifecycle, handle vulnerabilities and provide security updates.

    Read in glossary
    From 11.12.2027, Annex I Part II CRA requires manufacturers of affected products with digital elements to handle vulnerabilities without delay and provide security updates.
    ISO/IEC 27001

    ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally leading standard for an information security management system (ISMS). It describes a risk-based, process-oriented framework to systematically plan, implement, review and improve information security.

    Read in glossary
    Control A.8.8, management of technical vulnerabilities: assess relevance to your systems, plan remediation and keep evidence.

    Description

    A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) aloop driver. This Use-After-Free (UAF) vulnerability occurs when loopback_check_format() stops the capture side during a format change, while a concurrent close operation detaches or frees the runtime. An attacker could potentially exploit this to cause a system crash or achieve arbitrary code execution.

    Source: Debian LTS Advisories, BSI WID Portal, BSI CSAF, suse_csaf, Ubuntu Security Notices, redhat_csaf, ENISA EUVD, Microsoft Security Update Guide, cvelistv5, NVD (NIST), CVE.org (MITRE)

    Affected products

    The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.

    Affected products
    Affected versionsFixed in
    LinuxLinux
    • 6.19 – < 7.0.4
    • 6.7 – < 6.12.88
    • 5.11 – < 5.15.210
    • 6.13 – < 6.18.27
    • 5.16 – < 6.1.188
    • 6.2 – < 6.6.157
    • —
    • 2.6.37 – < 5.10.259
    • 7.0.4
    • 6.12.88
    • 5.15.210
    • 6.18.27
    • 6.1.188
    • 6.6.157
    • 7.1
    • 5.10.259
    IBMQRadar SIEM
    • <7.5.0 UP15 IF06
    • —

    Vendors and products

    Affected operating systems

    Affected operating systems
    Linuxdebianlinuxbookworm
    Linuxdebianlinuxbullseye
    Linuxubuntulinux-nvidiajammy
    Linuxubuntulinux-nvidia-tegrajammy
    Linuxubuntulinux-nvidia-tegra-5.15focal
    Linuxubuntulinux-nvidia-tegra-igxjammy
    Linuxlinuxlinux_kernel7.1
    Linuxlinuxlinux_kernel—

    Weakness classes (CWE)

    • CWE-416Use After Free

      Variant

      The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.

      Entry at MITRE CWE-416

    References & sources

    Changes to this CVE

    Who changed this CVE and when: NVD (analysis, affected products, CVSS), the CVE publisher (CNA) and additional providers such as CISA (ADP).

    1. Record modifiedCISA ADP

      Weakness type: CWE-416

      Show the original change
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Weakness type (CWE)added
      —
      CWE-416

      Source identifier: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0

    2. Record modifiedCISA ADP

      CISA assessment (SSVC): exploitation: none known, automatable: no

      Show the original change
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      SSVC assessmentadded
      —
      {"id":"CVE-2026-46090","role":"CISA Coordinator","options":[{"exploitation":"none"},{"automatable":"no"},{"technicalImpact":"total"}],"version":"2.0.3","timestamp":"2026-10-16T15:19:32.366120Z"}

      Source identifier: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0

    3. Record modifiedLinux

      Show 21 original changes
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Affected versions (publisher)added
      —
      Affected value modified. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/46xxx/CVE-2026-46090.json">CVE-2026-46090</a>
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03f52a9c170431e8f10e156b9dc0dae80b3e9198
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/345c24b2bcf0923dfae1ab41497351c68214ff76
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3727a3541788412c393eec236ad228d72efe19c7
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d45e34bf001344e2966dabca1897561bbc9e913
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/83bd62fa9620ac98d5d694bde14c50f98c8e7189
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bdd9503c3d222d2735b56c7a8b4422ccf3de6e5c
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d258cdce50ff3e02392917258e81a0ce9555c327
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e5c33cdc6f402eab8abd36ecf436b22c9d3a8aff
      Referenceremoved
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03f52a9c170431e8f10e156b9dc0dae80b3e9198
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/345c24b2bcf0923dfae1ab41497351c68214ff76
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d45e34bf001344e2966dabca1897561bbc9e913
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/83bd62fa9620ac98d5d694bde14c50f98c8e7189
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bdd9503c3d222d2735b56c7a8b4422ccf3de6e5c
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e5c33cdc6f402eab8abd36ecf436b22c9d3a8aff
      —
      Reference typeremoved
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03f52a9c170431e8f10e156b9dc0dae80b3e9198 Types: Patch
      —
      Reference typeremoved
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/345c24b2bcf0923dfae1ab41497351c68214ff76 Types: Patch
      —
      Reference typeremoved
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d45e34bf001344e2966dabca1897561bbc9e913 Types: Patch
      —
      Reference typeremoved
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/83bd62fa9620ac98d5d694bde14c50f98c8e7189 Types: Patch
      —
      Reference typeremoved
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bdd9503c3d222d2735b56c7a8b4422ccf3de6e5c Types: Patch
      —
      Reference typeremoved
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e5c33cdc6f402eab8abd36ecf436b22c9d3a8aff Types: Patch
      —

      Source identifier: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    4. Record modifiedRed Hat ADP

      Show 34 original changes
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27353
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27354
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:30848
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33215
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33685
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33899
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33900
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34094
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34095
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34443
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:35844
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:35863
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:35896
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:41236
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-46090
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2481980
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-46090.json
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27353
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27354
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:30848
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33215
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33685
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33899
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33900
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34094
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34095
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34443
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:35844
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:35863
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:35896
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:41236
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-46090
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2481980
      —
      Referenceremoved
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-46090.json
      —

      Source identifier: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c

    5. Record modifiedRed Hat ADP

      Show 2 original changes
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:41236
      Affected versions (publisher)changed
      Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0 Extended Update Support, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Extended Lifecycle Support (+16)
      Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0 Extended Update Support, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Extended Lifecycle Support (+16)

      Source identifier: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c

    Show 2 older changes

    1. Record modifiedRed Hat ADP

      Show 3 original changes
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:35844
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:35863
      Affected versions (publisher)changed
      Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0), Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10), Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) (+34)
      Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7 ELS), Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7 ELS), Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0) (+38)

      Source identifier: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c

    2. Record modifiedLinux

      Show 3 original changes
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/345c24b2bcf0923dfae1ab41497351c68214ff76
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/83bd62fa9620ac98d5d694bde14c50f98c8e7189
      Affected versions (publisher)changed
      Linux, Linux
      Linux, Linux

      Source identifier: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    Embed badge

    Show the severity and KEV status of this vulnerability on your site – with a link back here. The image is updated hourly.

    Badge preview for CVE-2026-46090
    <a href="https://intel.neosec.eu/en/cve/CVE-2026-46090"><img src="https://intel.neosec.eu/badge/cve/CVE-2026-46090.svg?lang=en" alt="CVE-2026-46090 – NEOSEC Intel" height="20"></a>