---
title: "CVE-2023-0266: Use after free in SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM… | CubePath"
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…"
language: en
source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-0266
---

# CVE-2023-0266: Use after free in SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM… | CubePath

## 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

Official description from the CVE record, published by Google. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-0266)

## 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

| 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](https://www.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 names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license.

- [CWE-416](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/416.html) Use 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.

- [github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/becf9e5d553c2389d857a3c178…](https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/becf9e5d553c2389d857a3c178ce80fdb34a02e1)
- [git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/stable-queue…](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/stable-queue.git/tree/queue-5.10/alsa-pcm-move-rwsem-lock-inside-snd%5Fctl%5Felem%5Fread-to-prevent-uaf.patch?id=72783cf35e6c55bca84c4bb7b776c58152856fd4)
- [github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c…](https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c83927b7ebb055e)
- [lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/05/msg00006.html](https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/05/msg00006.html)

## Timeline

1. ID reserved Jan 13, 2023
2. Record published Jan 30, 2023
3. Added to CISA KEV Mar 30, 2023
4. Record last updated Oct 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](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)