VDB-219756 · CVE-2023-0266 · EUVD-2023-12345

Linux Kernel ALSA PCM Package use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
7.4	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel. This impacts the function SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_READ/SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_WRITE of the component ALSA PCM Package. The manipulation results in use after free. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2023-0266. The attack can be executed remotely. Additionally, an exploit exists. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel (Operating System) (unknown version). Affected is the function SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_READ/SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_WRITE of the component ALSA PCM Package. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

A use after free vulnerability exists in the ALSA PCM package in the Linux Kernel. SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_{READ|WRITE}32 is missing locks that can be used in a use-after-free that can result in a priviledge escalation to gain ring0 access from the system user. We recommend upgrading past commit 56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c83927b7ebb055e

The weakness was released 01/30/2023 as 56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c83927b7ebb055e. The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2023-0266 since 01/13/2023. Technical details and a exploit are known. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 04/26/2026).

It is declared as attacked. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 236642 (Alibaba Cloud Linux 3 : 0042: cloud-kernel bugfix, enhancement and (ALINUX3-SA-2023:0042)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. This issue was added on 03/30/2023 to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog with a due date of 04/20/2023:

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Applying the patch 56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c83927b7ebb055e is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at github.com.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Zero-Day.cz (756), Tenable (236642), EUVD (EUVD-2023-12345) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2941). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

Debian Linux
Amazon Linux 2
IBM Power Hardware Management Console
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Ubuntu Linux
SUSE Linux
Oracle Linux
Open Source Linux Kernel
RESF Rocky Linux
IBM DataPower Gateway

Productinfo

Type

Operating System

Vendor

Linux

Name

Kernel

License

open-source

Website

Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.4

VulDB Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Temp Score: 7.2
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.0
NVD Vector: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 7.9
CNA Vector (Google Inc.): 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Attacked

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

KEV Added: 🔍
KEV Due: 🔍
KEV Remediation: 🔍
KEV Ransomware: 🔍
KEV Notice: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 236642
Nessus Name: Alibaba Cloud Linux 3 : 0042: cloud-kernel bugfix, enhancement and (ALINUX3-SA-2023:0042)

Zero-Day.cz: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: 56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c83927b7ebb055e

Timelineinfo

01/13/2023 🔍
01/30/2023 +17 days 🔍
01/30/2023 +0 days 🔍
04/26/2026 +1182 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: 56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c83927b7ebb055e
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-0266 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-0266
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-219756
EUVD: 🔍
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2941 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 01/30/2023 16:05
Updated: 04/26/2026 11:28
Changes: 01/30/2023 16:05 (51), 02/25/2023 13:43 (11), 04/28/2024 11:05 (26), 06/15/2024 11:33 (2), 09/27/2024 13:49 (2), 01/29/2025 17:48 (6), 05/19/2025 12:20 (2), 09/16/2025 00:33 (1), 09/16/2025 18:58 (4), 10/26/2025 15:24 (7), 01/01/2026 06:03 (7), 01/28/2026 02:14 (1), 04/26/2026 11:28 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103