CVE-2026-72262 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 08/15/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ASoC: SOF: ipc3-control: Fix heap overflow in bytes_ext put/get
The ipc_control_data buffer is allocated as kzalloc(max_size), where max_size covers the entire struct sof_ipc_ctrl_data including its flexible array payload. However, the bounds checks in bytes_ext_put and _bytes_ext_get compared user data lengths against max_size directly, ignoring that cdata->data sits at an offset of sizeof(struct sof_ipc_ctrl_data) bytes into the allocation.
This allowed writing up to sizeof(struct sof_ipc_ctrl_data) bytes past the end of the heap buffer from unprivileged userspace via the ALSA TLV kcontrol interface, and similarly allowed over-reading adjacent heap data on the get path.
Fix all bounds checks to subtract sizeof(*cdata) from max_size so they reflect the actual space available at the cdata->data offset. Also fix the error-path restore in bytes_ext_put which wrote to cdata->data instead of cdata, causing the same overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2026
The vulnerability resides within the Linux kernel's sound subsystem specifically in the SOF (Sound Open Firmware) IPC3 control implementation where a heap-based buffer overflow occurs during audio control data handling. This issue affects the Advanced SoC (ASoC) framework's interaction with firmware components through the ALSA TLV kcontrol interface, creating a critical security risk that impacts system stability and potentially allows privilege escalation.
The technical flaw stems from improper memory boundary calculations in the bytes_ext_put and bytes_ext_get functions within the sof_ipc_ctrl_data processing pipeline. The kernel allocates memory using kzalloc(max_size) where max_size encompasses the complete struct sof_ipc_ctrl_data structure along with its flexible array payload. However, the validation logic incorrectly compares user data lengths against max_size without accounting for the structural offset where cdata->data actually begins, which is positioned at sizeof(struct sof_ipc_ctrl_data) bytes into the allocated buffer.
This miscalculation creates a scenario where unprivileged userspace processes can write data up to the size of the sof_ipc_ctrl_data structure past the intended heap buffer boundaries when using the ALSA TLV kcontrol interface for audio parameter manipulation. Similarly, during read operations, adjacent heap memory contents become accessible through over-reading behavior due to the same flawed boundary checking mechanism.
The operational impact extends beyond simple memory corruption as this vulnerability enables potential privilege escalation attacks and system instability. An attacker could leverage this flaw to overwrite critical kernel data structures or inject malicious code into the kernel space, particularly targeting audio subsystem components that rely on the SOF framework for device communication. The vulnerability affects systems utilizing Intel-based audio hardware with SOF firmware support, making it relevant across various desktop and mobile computing platforms.
The fix implements proper boundary calculations by adjusting all bounds checks to subtract sizeof(*cdata) from max_size, ensuring validation occurs against the actual available space at cdata->data offset rather than the total allocation size. Additionally, the error path restoration logic in bytes_ext_put has been corrected to write to cdata instead of cdata->data, preventing the same overflow condition during cleanup operations. This remediation aligns with common security practices for buffer overflow prevention and follows established patterns for kernel memory management validation.
The vulnerability classification corresponds to CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow and CWE-787 out-of-bounds write, with potential ATT&CK technique mappings to T1068 legitimate credential use and T1543 legitimate privilege use. The fix demonstrates proper input validation and memory boundary checking practices that align with kernel security hardening requirements and industry best practices for preventing heap-based buffer overflows in kernel space operations.
This vulnerability represents a significant concern for embedded systems and mobile platforms where audio processing occurs through SOF firmware interfaces, particularly affecting devices with Intel audio hardware that utilize the Advanced SoC framework. The remediation ensures proper memory management practices and prevents unauthorized data access patterns that could compromise system integrity and user privacy through audio subsystem exploitation.