CVE-2026-64480 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 07/25/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ALSA: ice1712: check snd_ctl_new1() return value
snd_ctl_new1() can return NULL when memory allocation fails. The ice1712 driver calls snd_ctl_new1() without checking the return value before dereferencing the pointer in multiple places (ice1712.c, ice1724.c, aureon.c), which can lead to NULL pointer dereferences.
Add NULL checks after snd_ctl_new1() calls and return -ENOMEM if any fails.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2026
The vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within the ALSA subsystem, specifically affecting the ice1712 sound driver implementation. This issue resides in the audio driver code that manages hardware control interfaces for ICE1712 and related audio chipsets. The problem stems from inadequate error handling during memory allocation operations where the snd_ctl_new1() function may return NULL upon memory exhaustion conditions. When this occurs, the ice1712 driver fails to validate the return value before proceeding with subsequent operations that assume a valid pointer. This fundamental flaw creates a path for potential system crashes or denial of service conditions when the kernel attempts to dereference a null pointer in multiple locations throughout the audio driver codebase.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs during the initialization phase of the ice1712 audio driver where control interface elements are being created and registered with the kernel's sound subsystem. The snd_ctl_new1() function serves as a memory allocation utility for creating new control elements within the ALSA framework, but when memory constraints occur during allocation, it properly returns NULL to indicate failure. However, the affected drivers in ice1712.c, ice1724.c, and aureon.c files do not implement proper validation checks after calling this function. This oversight creates a dangerous scenario where subsequent code paths assume valid pointer references without verifying allocation success, leading to immediate system instability when memory allocation fails under stress conditions or resource-constrained environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially expose the kernel to more severe security implications. When null pointer dereferences occur in kernel space, they can result in complete system hangs, unexpected reboots, or in extreme cases, provide opportunities for privilege escalation attacks if exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference issues in software systems, and it demonstrates a clear violation of the principle of proper error handling within kernel drivers. From an attack surface perspective, this flaw could be leveraged in denial of service scenarios against systems running audio applications or in more sophisticated attacks targeting kernel memory management components.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing comprehensive null pointer validation immediately following each snd_ctl_new1() call within the affected driver files. This approach requires adding explicit return value checks that verify successful allocation before proceeding with subsequent operations and returning appropriate error codes such as -ENOMEM to indicate memory allocation failure. The fix pattern should be consistently applied across all three affected source files to ensure complete coverage of the vulnerability surface. Additionally, this remediation addresses fundamental best practices for kernel driver development as outlined in various security standards including those related to secure coding practices and proper error handling mechanisms. The implementation of these checks ensures that the audio subsystem maintains stability under memory pressure conditions while providing appropriate feedback to the system about allocation failures, thereby preventing the cascading effects that could otherwise lead to system instability or potential exploitation opportunities.