CVE-2026-53242
What it is
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ALSA: PCM: Fix wait queue list corruption in snd_pcm_drain() on linked streams snd_pcm_drain() uses init_waitqueue_entry which does not clear entry.prev/next, and add_wait_queue with a conditional remove_wait_queue that is skipped when to_check is no longer in the group after concurrent UNLINK. The orphaned wait entry remains on the unlinked substream sleep queue. On the next drain iteration, add_wait_queue adds the entry to a new queue while still linked on the old one, corrupting both lists. A subsequent wake_up dereferences NULL at the func pointer (mapped from the spinlock at offset 0 of the misinterpreted wait_queue_head_t), causing a kernel panic. Replace init_waitqueue_entry/add_wait_queue/conditional remove_wait_queue with init_wait_entry/prepare_to_wait/ finish_wait. init_wait_entry clears prev/next via INIT_LIST_HEAD on each iteration and sets autoremove_wake_function which auto-removes the entry on wake-up. finish_wait safely handles both the already-removed and still-queued cases.
At a glance
- Exploitability
- Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
- Exploit odds
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Fix
- A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.
Timeline
- PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
- Last updatedMost recent change to the record
Why it ranks here
- Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
- Exploit odds: 0.1% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Severity: 7.8 HIGH (CVSS).
- Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.
Details
- Published
- Last modified
- Exploit probability
- 0.1% · EPSS, next 30 days
- Weakness
- CWE-476 · NULL pointer dereference
- Record status
- Modified
Affected
- Linux Kernel < 5.10.259
- Linux Kernel < 6.1.176
- Linux Kernel < 6.6.143
- Linux Kernel < 6.12.94
- Linux Kernel < 6.18.36
- Linux Kernel < 7.0
- Linux Kernel < 7.0.13
- Linux Kernel 7.0
Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.8
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Is it in your code?
Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.
Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2026-53242.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2026-53242. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.
Fix and advisories
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7c71a9522555ff137a9ca36b15d759ca04d84788
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/88fe2e3658726cb21ff2dcf9770bf672f9b9d31b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b053fcd8912f06c30f932f5b8ec41c72de474695
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cac5bf3500ee6422cf64e0df0b5daeecfed42917
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cd98837db15f323463b8df07282ac723bd5c3fed
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d68b621bb5a48051932f1017a6e1bc9b18f854d0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d842f26a167e77a36f3ed333b9fa99d36ef99fe6
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/06eca2235a3fd281dddf25b0a97772b25b5bb573
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7c71a9522555ff137a9ca36b15d759ca04d84788
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/88fe2e3658726cb21ff2dcf9770bf672f9b9d31b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b053fcd8912f06c30f932f5b8ec41c72de474695
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cac5bf3500ee6422cf64e0df0b5daeecfed42917
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cd98837db15f323463b8df07282ac723bd5c3fed
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d68b621bb5a48051932f1017a6e1bc9b18f854d0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d842f26a167e77a36f3ed333b9fa99d36ef99fe6
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-784472.html