In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ALSA: pcm: set timer->private_data before registering the PCM timer
snd_pcm_timer_init() calls snd_device_register() to link the new
struct snd_timer into the global timer list while it still carries
hw.c_resolution = snd_pcm_timer_resolution (and hw.start/hw.stop),
and only afterwards sets timer->private_data = substream.
Once the timer is on the list under register_mutex, a concurrent
reader can already reach it through the same mutex and invoke these
callbacks. /proc/asound/timers does this via c_resolution(), and
snd_timer_open()+snd_timer_start() reach start()/stop() the same way.
All three dereference timer->private_data, which for this brief
window is NULL, giving a NULL-pointer dereference:
substream = timer->private_data;
return substream->runtime ? ... // substream is NULL
Move the private_data/private_free assignment before
snd_device_register() so the timer is never visible on the list
without its private_data set. On the snd_device_register() failure
path, private_free() (snd_pcm_timer_free()) can now run, but it only
does substream->timer = NULL, which is already NULL at that point
since substream->timer is set to the new timer just once, after a
successful registration -- so the failure path stays safe.
ALSA: pcm: set timer->private_data before registering the PCM timer
snd_pcm_timer_init() calls snd_device_register() to link the new
struct snd_timer into the global timer list while it still carries
hw.c_resolution = snd_pcm_timer_resolution (and hw.start/hw.stop),
and only afterwards sets timer->private_data = substream.
Once the timer is on the list under register_mutex, a concurrent
reader can already reach it through the same mutex and invoke these
callbacks. /proc/asound/timers does this via c_resolution(), and
snd_timer_open()+snd_timer_start() reach start()/stop() the same way.
All three dereference timer->private_data, which for this brief
window is NULL, giving a NULL-pointer dereference:
substream = timer->private_data;
return substream->runtime ? ... // substream is NULL
Move the private_data/private_free assignment before
snd_device_register() so the timer is never visible on the list
without its private_data set. On the snd_device_register() failure
path, private_free() (snd_pcm_timer_free()) can now run, but it only
does substream->timer = NULL, which is already NULL at that point
since substream->timer is set to the new timer just once, after a
successful registration -- so the failure path stays safe.
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
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Advisories
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Fixes
Solution
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Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Tue, 06 Oct 2026 14:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-476 |
Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ALSA: pcm: set timer->private_data before registering the PCM timer snd_pcm_timer_init() calls snd_device_register() to link the new struct snd_timer into the global timer list while it still carries hw.c_resolution = snd_pcm_timer_resolution (and hw.start/hw.stop), and only afterwards sets timer->private_data = substream. Once the timer is on the list under register_mutex, a concurrent reader can already reach it through the same mutex and invoke these callbacks. /proc/asound/timers does this via c_resolution(), and snd_timer_open()+snd_timer_start() reach start()/stop() the same way. All three dereference timer->private_data, which for this brief window is NULL, giving a NULL-pointer dereference: substream = timer->private_data; return substream->runtime ? ... // substream is NULL Move the private_data/private_free assignment before snd_device_register() so the timer is never visible on the list without its private_data set. On the snd_device_register() failure path, private_free() (snd_pcm_timer_free()) can now run, but it only does substream->timer = NULL, which is already NULL at that point since substream->timer is set to the new timer just once, after a successful registration -- so the failure path stays safe. | |
| Title | ALSA: pcm: set timer->private_data before registering the PCM timer | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
|
Projects
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MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-10-06T08:46:09.965Z
Reserved: 2026-09-25T10:25:14.339Z
Link: CVE-2026-98314
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-10-06T09:18:23.033
Modified: 2026-10-06T09:18:23.033
Link: CVE-2026-98314
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
Updated: 2026-10-06T14:00:20Z
Weaknesses