CVE-2026-74640
Received Received - Intake

Out-of-Bounds Write in Linux Kernel ALSA FCP

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-74640, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-08-22

Last updated on: 2026-08-22

Assigner: kernel.org

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ALSA: FCP: fix OOB write in fcp_meter_ctl_get() fcp_ioctl_set_meter_map() bounds the user-supplied Level Meter map size by the driver's own limit of 255 if (map.map_size < 1 || map.map_size > 255 || map.meter_slots < 1 || map.meter_slots > 255) return -EINVAL; and passes it to fcp_add_new_ctl() as the control's channel count, where it is stored as elem->channels. Every control read writes into struct snd_ctl_elem_value, whose integer array is declared long value[128], so the limit is 128, not 255. fcp_meter_ctl_get() stores one 64-bit word per channel into that array with no bound of its own: for (i = 0; i < elem->channels; i++) { int idx = private->meter_level_map[i]; int value = idx < 0 ? 0 : le32_to_cpu(resp[idx]); ucontrol->value.integer.value[i] = value; } snd_ctl_elem_read_user() serves that object from memdup_user(_control, sizeof(*control)), 1224 bytes on LP64 out of kmalloc-2048. offsetof(struct snd_ctl_elem_value, value) is 72, so element i is written at byte 72 + 8 * i and element 144 already lands past the allocation. At map_size 255 the last store ends at byte 2112, 888 bytes past the object and 64 bytes into the adjacent slab object. The stored words come from the device and meter_level_map[] selects which word lands in which slot, so extent and contents are both controlled. The core does not catch this. snd_ctl_check_elem_info() is reached only from __snd_ctl_elem_info(), which snd_ctl_elem_read() calls under CONFIG_SND_CTL_DEBUG; without that option snd_ctl_skip_validation() is a compile-time true. __snd_ctl_add_replace() validates kcontrol->count and never inspects elem->channels. Installing an oversized map needs CAP_SYS_RAWIO, but the control outlives the hwdep descriptor that created it, so the out-of-bounds stores are issued by any process able to read controls on /dev/snd/controlC0. KASAN on 7.2.0-rc5 (arm64), triggered by an unprivileged control read: BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in fcp_meter_ctl_get Write of size 8 at addr ffff000017af04c8 by task fcp_trigger/185 __asan_store8 fcp_meter_ctl_get snd_ctl_elem_read snd_ctl_ioctl Allocated by task 185: memdup_user snd_ctl_ioctl The buggy address is located 0 bytes to the right of allocated 1224-byte region [ffff000017af0000, ffff000017af04c8) Bound the map size by the ABI limit rather than by 255, and bound the store loop at the sink so it cannot run past the value array whatever elem->channels holds. Discovered by XBOW, triaged by Baul Lee <baul.lee@xbow.com>

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-22
Last Modified
2026-08-22
Generated
2026-08-22
AI Q&A
2026-08-22
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel *

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

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Executive Summary

This is a Linux kernel vulnerability where an out-of-bounds write occurs in the ALSA FCP component. The issue stems from improper bounds checking when handling user-supplied Level Meter map sizes. The driver allows map sizes up to 255, but the control structure's value array is limited to 128 elements. Writing beyond this limit corrupts adjacent memory, potentially leading to crashes or privilege escalation.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability can be detected by checking for out-of-bounds writes in the ALSA FCP driver. Use KASAN (Kernel Address Sanitizer) to detect memory corruption during kernel operations. Monitor kernel logs for slab-out-of-bounds errors or crashes related to snd_ctl_elem_read or fcp_meter_ctl_get functions.

Impact Analysis

An attacker with access to /dev/snd/controlC0 could exploit this to corrupt kernel memory, causing system instability, crashes, or unauthorized privilege escalation. The vulnerability requires CAP_SYS_RAWIO to initially set up the oversized map but can be triggered by any process able to read controls afterward.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the Linux kernel patch that bounds the map size by the ABI limit (128) instead of 255. Update to a kernel version that includes the fix for CVE-2026-74640. Restrict CAP_SYS_RAWIO capabilities to prevent unauthorized installations of oversized maps.

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