CVE-2026-96674
Received Received - Intake

Integer Overflow in ALSA-lib Topology Parser

Publication date: 2026-09-23

Last updated on: 2026-09-23

Assigner: VulnCheck

Description
alsa-lib through 1.2.16.1 computes combined topology element size using 32-bit arithmetic in src/topology/ctl.c, allowing integer overflow that defeats bounds checks. Attackers can supply crafted topology files that wrap size calculations, causing the decoder to read beyond the topology buffer and potentially leak sensitive data or crash the application.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-09-23
Last Modified
2026-09-23
Generated
2026-09-23
AI Q&A
2026-09-23
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-96674
EUVD
EUVD-2026-85346

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 2 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
alsa_project alsa_lib 1.2.16.1
alsa_project alsa_lib to 1.2.16.1 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-190 The product performs a calculation that can produce an integer overflow or wraparound when the logic assumes that the resulting value will always be larger than the original value. This occurs when an integer value is incremented to a value that is too large to store in the associated representation. When this occurs, the value may become a very small or negative number.

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Executive Summary

CVE-2026-96674 is an integer overflow vulnerability in alsa-lib versions up to 1.2.16.1. It occurs in src/topology/ctl.c where topology element sizes are calculated using 32-bit arithmetic. This can cause integer overflows that bypass buffer bounds checks, allowing attackers to craft malicious topology files. These files may cause the decoder to read beyond the intended buffer, potentially leaking sensitive data or crashing the application.

Detection Guidance

To detect this vulnerability, check the version of alsa-lib installed on your system. Run: alsa-lib --version or dpkg -l | grep alsa-lib (Debian/Ubuntu) or rpm -qa | grep alsa-lib (RHEL/CentOS). If the version is 1.2.16.1 or earlier, the system is vulnerable.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service by providing maliciously crafted topology files. It may also lead to information disclosure if sensitive data is read from memory. Systems using vulnerable alsa-lib versions are at risk if they process untrusted topology files.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability does not directly affect compliance with GDPR or HIPAA as it involves a local integer overflow in alsa-lib that could cause information disclosure or crashes. GDPR and HIPAA focus on data protection and privacy, while this issue primarily impacts system stability and may expose memory contents. No evidence suggests it enables unauthorized data access or breaches confidentiality requirements.

Mitigation Strategies

Immediately update alsa-lib to the latest version, which includes fixes for the integer overflow. For Debian/Ubuntu, run: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade libasound2. For RHEL/CentOS, use: sudo yum update alsa-lib. If updating is not possible, restrict access to topology file parsing or disable ALSA features until patched.

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