CVE-2026-74387

ALSA: seq: midi: Serialize output teardown with event_input

HIGH
7.8
CVSS Score
Published: August 15, 2026 at 05:59 AM UTC
Updated: October 16, 2026 at 07:17 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

Using Linux by Linux?

Get instant alerts when new vulnerabilities affect Linux - before attackers find them.

Real-time alertsTrack your software stackFree plan available
Severity
HIGH7.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ALSA: seq: midi: Serialize output teardown with event_input event_process_midi() borrows msynth->output_rfile.output and then passes the substream to dump_midi() and snd_rawmidi_kernel_write() without synchronizing with the output open/close transition. midisynth_use() also publishes output_rfile before snd_rawmidi_output_params() has finished. The last midisynth_unuse() can therefore release the same rawmidi file and free substream->runtime before snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1() takes its runtime buffer reference. That leaves the event_input path using a stale substream or runtime and can end in a NULL-deref or use-after-free. Fix this with two pieces of synchronization. Keep a short IRQ-safe spinlock only for publishing or clearing output_rfile and for pairing the output snapshot with an snd_use_lock_t reference. Once event_process_midi() has taken that in-flight reference, it drops the spinlock before calling snd_seq_dump_var_event(), dump_midi(), or snd_rawmidi_kernel_write(). midisynth_unuse() now detaches the visible rawmidi file under the same spinlock, waits for the in-flight writers to drain, and only then drains and releases the saved file. midisynth_use() likewise opens into a local snd_rawmidi_file and publishes it only after snd_rawmidi_output_params() succeeds. The buggy scenario involves two paths, with each column showing the order within that path: event_input path: last unuse path: 1. event_process_midi() snapshots 1. midisynth_unuse() starts output_rfile.output. tearing down output_rfile. 2. dump_midi() reaches 2. snd_rawmidi_kernel_release() snd_rawmidi_kernel_write() closes the output file. before runtime is pinned. 3. close_substream() frees 3. The callback keeps using substream->runtime. the borrowed substream. Validation reproduced this kernel report: KASAN null-ptr-deref in snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1+0x56/0x360 RIP: 0033:0x7fde7dd0837f RIP: 0010:snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1+0x56/0x360

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Vendor states this is fixed in 11165fe2c5ea0516debe486d91df67abbe36905e (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 718f6a56b40875f19e6915799044a02df9abfd52 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 936641af564c3d92721704b781e36aaf223efdd2 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in d6fd2afb137f52bf00c5210cc44d08ed54dcffb4 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in ef7607ab1c8adc6258fb1b27d08e26aecdc18a58 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in f5d470b808bc01f70978e22e595c6f7768313406 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 2.6.12 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.178 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.12.97 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.18.40 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.6.145 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.1.5 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.2 (unaffected)

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

7.8HIGHLinux
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusRECEIVED

Get alerted

Stop reading CVE feeds looking for your own stack

Track the products you run and VulnTracker tells you when a new CVE affects them — with what is known about fixing it, and nothing about the rest.

Free plan, no card