Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5 ALSA MIDI snd_midi_input_event rmidi null pointer dereference

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4.8	$0-$5k	0.78-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.187/6.6.156/6.12.109/6.18.51/7.2.5. It has been rated as problematic. The impacted element is the function snd_midi_input_event of the component ALSA MIDI. The manipulation of the argument rmidi leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-90207. The attack needs to be performed locally. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.187/6.6.156/6.12.109/6.18.51/7.2.5. This issue affects the function snd_midi_input_event of the component ALSA MIDI. The manipulation of the argument rmidi with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ALSA: seq: midi: Serialize input teardown with event_input snd_midi_input_event() must not be running while a rawmidi substream is closing, since this can lead to the trigger state becoming out-of-step through this sequence in snd_rawmidi_input_trigger(): snd_rawmidi_input_trigger(up=0) snd_midi_input_event() -> snd_rawmidi_kernel_read() -> snd_rawmidi_input_trigger(up=1) -> cancel_work_sync() which ends with the underlying device being active unexpectedly. When this is called from close_substream(), further input can re-trigger the input event leaving it running after rawmidi_release_priv() has set rfile->rmidi to NULL which leads to: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 00000000000000b0 Call trace: snd_midi_input_event+0x3c/0x134 [snd_seq_midi] (P) snd_rawmidi_input_event_work+0x1c/0x2c process_one_work+0x150/0x3a4 worker_thread+0x190/0x318 Apply a similar approach to commit ef7607ab1c8ad ("ALSA: seq: midi: Serialize output teardown with event_input") which fixed the same issue in the output direction, but updated to use RCU following Takashi Iwai's proposed follow-on patch [1]. With this change in place, midisynth_unsubscribe() clears the input file so snd_midi_input_event() will not re-trigger the stream and will be quiesced by the cancel_work_sync() in snd_rawmidi_input_trigger(). [1] https://lore.kernel.org/linux-sound/[email protected]/

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-90207 since 09/11/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.1.188, 6.6.157, 6.12.110, 6.18.52, 7.2.6 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch de76a2b47582cd6dba2e15f024681bf377ecc94a/89d986897aff7275b42e075e556731b8353366af/6290afaae54c7a9fa3bca3b4d5433e6d83e8669d/210c193a9ef1312fab153948c6928e4cfaa1f03b/282a3ef9e4b63b2f6823bbbb3c1a90b002cdaf12/403f7f3ad3808a0096d84cf228fab68dc253fd9d is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.187
• 6.6.156
• 6.12.109
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
• 6.18.12
• 6.18.13
• 6.18.14
• 6.18.15
• 6.18.16
• 6.18.17
• 6.18.18
• 6.18.19
• 6.18.20
• 6.18.21
• 6.18.22
• 6.18.23
• 6.18.24
• 6.18.25
• 6.18.26
• 6.18.27
• 6.18.28
• 6.18.29
• 6.18.30
• 6.18.31
• 6.18.32
• 6.18.33
• 6.18.34
• 6.18.35
• 6.18.36
• 6.18.37
• 6.18.38
• 6.18.39
• 6.18.40
• 6.18.41
• 6.18.42
• 6.18.43
• 6.18.44
• 6.18.45
• 6.18.46
• 6.18.47
• 6.18.48
• 6.18.49
• 6.18.50
• 6.18.51
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.8

VulDB Base Score: 5.0
VulDB Temp Score: 4.8
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.188/6.6.157/6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc1
Patch: de76a2b47582cd6dba2e15f024681bf377ecc94a/89d986897aff7275b42e075e556731b8353366af/6290afaae54c7a9fa3bca3b4d5433e6d83e8669d/210c193a9ef1312fab153948c6928e4cfaa1f03b/282a3ef9e4b63b2f6823bbbb3c1a90b002cdaf12/403f7f3ad3808a0096d84cf228fab68dc253fd9d

Timelineinfo

09/11/2026 CVE reserved
09/17/2026 +6 days Advisory disclosed
09/17/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/17/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-90207 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-90207
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-406721

Entryinfo

Created: 09/17/2026 20:42
Changes: 09/17/2026 20:42 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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