CVE-2023-0266

Use after free in SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM in Linux Kernel

High 7.9
Exploited: added to CISA KEV 30 Mar 2023

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 facts

Published: 30 Jan 2023
Last changed: 21 Oct 2025
Assigned by: Google
KEV added: 30 Mar 2023
KEV fix due: 20 Apr 2023
EPSS: 2.601% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 85.606% of CVEs (scores for 15 Nov 2026)
SSVC (CISA): Exploitation: active; Automatable: no; Technical impact: total

Severity scores

Each score is shown as its source gave it. They are not averaged or merged.

7.9CVSS 3.1, Highfrom the CNA (Google)CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:H

What to do

Apply updates per vendor instructions.CISA KEV required action

Historical context and remediation

This reference retains the original CVE publication date. A recent record update does not mean a new attack occurred.

CAPEC-233 Privilege Escalation (CNA impact statement)

Version statuses below come from the CNA. An “unaffected” version is not necessarily a currently supported release or proof of a patch date. EPSS is a dated risk estimate, not a count of historical attacks.

Read the original CVE record.

Affected products

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux Kernel	Default status: unaffected 4.14 up to but excluding 56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c83927b7ebb055e (affected)