CVE-2026-46090 Linux CVE debrief

Who should care

Linux kernel maintainers, Linux distribution vendors, and users of Linux systems should assess exposure and apply patches to mitigate the vulnerability. Linux kernel developers, Linux distribution maintainers, and users of Linux systems are affected by this vulnerability and should take action to protect themselves. The vulnerability has a high CVSS score and is considered HIGH severity, so defenders should prioritize patching vulnerable systems.

Why it matters

CVE-2026-46090 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ALSA aloop component that could allow local attackers to escalate privileges or cause a denial of service. Defenders should prioritize patching vulnerable systems.

• Local attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to escalate privileges or cause a denial of service.
• Successful exploitation requires local access and could lead to a system crash or privilege escalation.
• Defenders should prioritize patching vulnerable Linux kernel versions to prevent potential exploitation.
• Verification of Linux kernel versions and application of patches is crucial to mitigate this vulnerability.

Technical summary

The Linux kernel's ALSA aloop component is vulnerable to a use-after-free condition. This occurs when a concurrent close happens during a format-change stop, potentially leading to a use-after-free scenario. The issue has been addressed with several patches. The vulnerability is caused by a race condition between the loopback_check_format() function and the snd_pcm_stop() function. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to escalate privileges or cause a denial of service. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.8 and is considered HIGH severity.

Defensive priority

High

Recommended defensive actions

• Apply available patches to resolve the use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ALSA aloop component.
• Review and update Linux kernel versions to ensure they are not vulnerable.
• Monitor Linux kernel updates for future security patches.
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up.
• Review the supplied official advisory or CVE record to validate affected scope, severity, and vendor guidance.
• Plan vendor-supported updates or mitigations through normal change control where exposure is confirmed.
• Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review.

Evidence notes

The CVE record and NVD entry provide details on the vulnerability, including its description, CVSS score, and affected versions. Multiple patches are available to resolve this issue. The Linux kernel's ALSA aloop component is vulnerable to a use-after-free condition. This occurs when a concurrent close happens during a format-change stop, potentially leading to a use-after-free scenario. The issue has been addressed with several patches. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.8 and is considered HIGH severity. The NVD entry provides

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.