CVE-2023-0266

Use after free in SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM in Linux Kernel

CVSS 3.1 High 7.9Known exploited (CISA KEV)

CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:H

Description

A use after free vulnerability exists in the ALSA PCM package in the Linux Kernel. SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_{READ|WRITE}32 is missing locks that can be used in a use-after-free that can result in a priviledge escalation to gain ring0 access from the system user. We recommend upgrading past commit 56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c83927b7ebb055e

Key data

CVSS 3.1 High 7.9

Score published by Google in the CVE record.

CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:H

Attack vector: Adjacent
The attacker needs to be on the same shared network segment or a closely related one.
Attack complexity: High
The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation.
Privileges required: Low
A basic user account is needed.
User interaction: None
No action from any user is needed.
Scope: Changed
The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one.
Confidentiality impact: Low
Limited effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact: High
Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact: High
Serious or total effect on availability.

Metric	Value	What it means
Attack vector	Adjacent	The attacker needs to be on the same shared network segment or a closely related one.
Attack complexity	High	The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation.
Privileges required	Low	A basic user account is needed.
User interaction	None	No action from any user is needed.
Scope	Changed	The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one.
Confidentiality impact	Low	Limited effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact	High	Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact	High	Serious or total effect on availability.

CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at first.org/cvss.

EPSS

Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days.

Score: 0.02601 (2.6% probability)
Percentile: 85.5%
Scores of: Nov 10, 2026
Model: v2026.06.15

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Name in the catalog: Linux Kernel Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Added to the catalog: Mar 30, 2023
Federal due date: Apr 20, 2023

CISA assessment as of Jan 29, 2025

Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA.

Exploitation: Recorded by CISA as active
Automatable: no
Technical impact: total

Weakness (CWE)

CWE catalog version 5.0.

CWE-416Use After Free

Affected products

Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them.

Linux Kernel
- affected: 4.14 up to before 56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c83927b7ebb055e

References

Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control.

Timeline

ID reservedJan 13, 2023
Record publishedJan 30, 2023
Added to CISA KEVMar 30, 2023
Record last updatedOct 21, 2025

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Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:25 UTC. Sources and licenses