Unrated severityNVD Advisory· Published May 27, 2026· Updated May 27, 2026
CVE-2026-46090
CVE-2026-46090
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ALSA: aloop: Fix peer runtime UAF during format-change stop
loopback_check_format() may stop the capture side when playback starts with parameters that no longer match a running capture stream. Commit 826af7fa62e3 ("ALSA: aloop: Fix racy access at PCM trigger") moved the peer lookup under cable->lock, but the actual snd_pcm_stop() still runs after dropping that lock.
A concurrent close can clear the capture entry from cable->streams[] and detach or free its runtime while the playback trigger path still holds a stale peer substream pointer.
Keep a per-cable count of in-flight peer stops before dropping cable->lock, and make free_cable() wait for those stops before detaching the runtime. This preserves the existing behavior while making the peer runtime lifetime explicit.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
A use-after-free race condition in the Linux kernel's ALSA loopback driver lets a concurrent close free the peer's runtime while a format-change stop still uses it.
Vulnerability
In the Linux kernel's snd-aloop driver, loopback_check_format() may stop the capture PCM substream when the playback stream starts with parameters that no longer match an already running capture stream. Commit 826af7fa62e3 ("ALSA: aloop: Fix racy access at PCM trigger") moved the peer substream lookup under cable->lock, but the subsequent snd_pcm_stop() call occurs after dropping that lock, creating a race window. A concurrent close operation on the capture stream can clear the capture entry from cable->streams[] and detach or free its runtime while the playback trigger path still holds a stale pointer to the peer substream. The fix introduces a per-cable count of in-flight peer stops and makes free_cable() wait for those stops to complete before detaching the runtime [1].
Exploitation
An attacker needs the ability to trigger a format change on a playback stream (i.e., start playback with different parameters) while a capture stream is actively running, and then concurrently close the capture stream file descriptor. This requires local access to ALSA devices and the ability to create and manage PCM substreams. The race window is small and depends on timing; success would rely on precise interleaving of the format-check stop path and the close path.
Impact
Successful exploitation results in a use-after-free condition on the peer substream's runtime structure, which can lead to memory corruption, kernel crash (denial of service), or potentially privilege escalation depending on heap layout and the attacker's ability to control freed memory contents.
Mitigation
The fix has been committed to the Linux kernel stable tree as commit 5d45e34bf001344e2966dabca1897561bbc9e913 [1]. Users should apply this kernel patch or update to a kernel version that includes it. No workaround is available for unpatched kernels; the race is inherent to the original locking design.
References
AI Insight generated on May 27, 2026. Synthesized from this CVE's description and the cited reference URLs; citations are validated against the source bundle.
Affected products
2Patches
8bdd9503c3d22ALSA: aloop: Fix peer runtime UAF during format-change stop
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.gitCássio GabrielApr 24, 2026Fixed in 6.18.27via kernel-cna
1 file changed · +30 −14
sound/drivers/aloop.c+30 −14 modifieddiff --git a/sound/drivers/aloop.c b/sound/drivers/aloop.c index aa0d2fcb1a180c..a37a1695f51c7d 100644 --- a/sound/drivers/aloop.c +++ b/sound/drivers/aloop.c @@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ struct loopback_ops { struct loopback_cable { spinlock_t lock; struct loopback_pcm *streams[2]; + /* in-flight peer stops running outside cable->lock */ + atomic_t stop_count; + wait_queue_head_t stop_wait; struct snd_pcm_hardware hw; /* flags */ unsigned int valid; @@ -366,8 +369,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) return 0; if (stream == SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE) return -EIO; - else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) + else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) { + /* close must not free the peer runtime below */ + atomic_inc(&cable->stop_count); stop_capture = true; + } } setup = get_setup(dpcm_play); @@ -396,8 +402,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) } } - if (stop_capture) + if (stop_capture) { snd_pcm_stop(dpcm_capt->substream, SNDRV_PCM_STATE_DRAINING); + if (atomic_dec_and_test(&cable->stop_count)) + wake_up(&cable->stop_wait); + } return 0; } @@ -1049,23 +1058,29 @@ static void free_cable(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) struct loopback *loopback = substream->private_data; int dev = get_cable_index(substream); struct loopback_cable *cable; + struct loopback_pcm *dpcm; + bool other_alive; cable = loopback->cables[substream->number][dev]; if (!cable) return; - if (cable->streams[!substream->stream]) { - /* other stream is still alive */ - guard(spinlock_irq)(&cable->lock); - cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; - } else { - struct loopback_pcm *dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; - if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) - cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); - /* free the cable */ - loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; - kfree(cable); + scoped_guard(spinlock_irq, &cable->lock) { + cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; + other_alive = cable->streams[!substream->stream]; } + + /* Pair with the stop_count increment in loopback_check_format(). */ + wait_event(cable->stop_wait, !atomic_read(&cable->stop_count)); + if (other_alive) + return; + + dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; + if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) + cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); + /* free the cable */ + loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; + kfree(cable); } static int loopback_jiffies_timer_open(struct loopback_pcm *dpcm) @@ -1260,6 +1275,8 @@ static int loopback_open(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) goto unlock; } spin_lock_init(&cable->lock); + atomic_set(&cable->stop_count, 0); + init_waitqueue_head(&cable->stop_wait); cable->hw = loopback_pcm_hardware; if (loopback->timer_source) cable->ops = &loopback_snd_timer_ops; -- cgit 1.3-korg
e5c33cdc6f40ALSA: aloop: Fix peer runtime UAF during format-change stop
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.gitCássio GabrielApr 24, 2026Fixed in 7.1-rc2via kernel-cna
1 file changed · +30 −14
sound/drivers/aloop.c+30 −14 modifieddiff --git a/sound/drivers/aloop.c b/sound/drivers/aloop.c index aa0d2fcb1a180c..a37a1695f51c7d 100644 --- a/sound/drivers/aloop.c +++ b/sound/drivers/aloop.c @@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ struct loopback_ops { struct loopback_cable { spinlock_t lock; struct loopback_pcm *streams[2]; + /* in-flight peer stops running outside cable->lock */ + atomic_t stop_count; + wait_queue_head_t stop_wait; struct snd_pcm_hardware hw; /* flags */ unsigned int valid; @@ -366,8 +369,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) return 0; if (stream == SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE) return -EIO; - else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) + else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) { + /* close must not free the peer runtime below */ + atomic_inc(&cable->stop_count); stop_capture = true; + } } setup = get_setup(dpcm_play); @@ -396,8 +402,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) } } - if (stop_capture) + if (stop_capture) { snd_pcm_stop(dpcm_capt->substream, SNDRV_PCM_STATE_DRAINING); + if (atomic_dec_and_test(&cable->stop_count)) + wake_up(&cable->stop_wait); + } return 0; } @@ -1049,23 +1058,29 @@ static void free_cable(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) struct loopback *loopback = substream->private_data; int dev = get_cable_index(substream); struct loopback_cable *cable; + struct loopback_pcm *dpcm; + bool other_alive; cable = loopback->cables[substream->number][dev]; if (!cable) return; - if (cable->streams[!substream->stream]) { - /* other stream is still alive */ - guard(spinlock_irq)(&cable->lock); - cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; - } else { - struct loopback_pcm *dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; - if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) - cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); - /* free the cable */ - loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; - kfree(cable); + scoped_guard(spinlock_irq, &cable->lock) { + cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; + other_alive = cable->streams[!substream->stream]; } + + /* Pair with the stop_count increment in loopback_check_format(). */ + wait_event(cable->stop_wait, !atomic_read(&cable->stop_count)); + if (other_alive) + return; + + dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; + if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) + cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); + /* free the cable */ + loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; + kfree(cable); } static int loopback_jiffies_timer_open(struct loopback_pcm *dpcm) @@ -1260,6 +1275,8 @@ static int loopback_open(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) goto unlock; } spin_lock_init(&cable->lock); + atomic_set(&cable->stop_count, 0); + init_waitqueue_head(&cable->stop_wait); cable->hw = loopback_pcm_hardware; if (loopback->timer_source) cable->ops = &loopback_snd_timer_ops; -- cgit 1.3-korg
5d45e34bf001ALSA: aloop: Fix peer runtime UAF during format-change stop
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.gitCássio GabrielApr 24, 2026Fixed in 7.0.4via kernel-cna
1 file changed · +30 −14
sound/drivers/aloop.c+30 −14 modifieddiff --git a/sound/drivers/aloop.c b/sound/drivers/aloop.c index aa0d2fcb1a180c..a37a1695f51c7d 100644 --- a/sound/drivers/aloop.c +++ b/sound/drivers/aloop.c @@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ struct loopback_ops { struct loopback_cable { spinlock_t lock; struct loopback_pcm *streams[2]; + /* in-flight peer stops running outside cable->lock */ + atomic_t stop_count; + wait_queue_head_t stop_wait; struct snd_pcm_hardware hw; /* flags */ unsigned int valid; @@ -366,8 +369,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) return 0; if (stream == SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE) return -EIO; - else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) + else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) { + /* close must not free the peer runtime below */ + atomic_inc(&cable->stop_count); stop_capture = true; + } } setup = get_setup(dpcm_play); @@ -396,8 +402,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) } } - if (stop_capture) + if (stop_capture) { snd_pcm_stop(dpcm_capt->substream, SNDRV_PCM_STATE_DRAINING); + if (atomic_dec_and_test(&cable->stop_count)) + wake_up(&cable->stop_wait); + } return 0; } @@ -1049,23 +1058,29 @@ static void free_cable(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) struct loopback *loopback = substream->private_data; int dev = get_cable_index(substream); struct loopback_cable *cable; + struct loopback_pcm *dpcm; + bool other_alive; cable = loopback->cables[substream->number][dev]; if (!cable) return; - if (cable->streams[!substream->stream]) { - /* other stream is still alive */ - guard(spinlock_irq)(&cable->lock); - cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; - } else { - struct loopback_pcm *dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; - if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) - cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); - /* free the cable */ - loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; - kfree(cable); + scoped_guard(spinlock_irq, &cable->lock) { + cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; + other_alive = cable->streams[!substream->stream]; } + + /* Pair with the stop_count increment in loopback_check_format(). */ + wait_event(cable->stop_wait, !atomic_read(&cable->stop_count)); + if (other_alive) + return; + + dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; + if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) + cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); + /* free the cable */ + loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; + kfree(cable); } static int loopback_jiffies_timer_open(struct loopback_pcm *dpcm) @@ -1260,6 +1275,8 @@ static int loopback_open(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) goto unlock; } spin_lock_init(&cable->lock); + atomic_set(&cable->stop_count, 0); + init_waitqueue_head(&cable->stop_wait); cable->hw = loopback_pcm_hardware; if (loopback->timer_source) cable->ops = &loopback_snd_timer_ops; -- cgit 1.3-korg
03f52a9c1704ALSA: aloop: Fix peer runtime UAF during format-change stop
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.gitCássio GabrielFixed in 6.12.88via kernel-cna
1 file changed · +30 −15
sound/drivers/aloop.c+30 −15 modifieddiff --git a/sound/drivers/aloop.c b/sound/drivers/aloop.c index 09084cc89d654f..a71e74d496b07a 100644 --- a/sound/drivers/aloop.c +++ b/sound/drivers/aloop.c @@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ struct loopback_ops { struct loopback_cable { spinlock_t lock; struct loopback_pcm *streams[2]; + /* in-flight peer stops running outside cable->lock */ + atomic_t stop_count; + wait_queue_head_t stop_wait; struct snd_pcm_hardware hw; /* flags */ unsigned int valid; @@ -365,8 +368,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) return 0; if (stream == SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE) return -EIO; - else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) + else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) { + /* close must not free the peer runtime below */ + atomic_inc(&cable->stop_count); stop_capture = true; + } } setup = get_setup(dpcm_play); @@ -395,8 +401,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) } } - if (stop_capture) + if (stop_capture) { snd_pcm_stop(dpcm_capt->substream, SNDRV_PCM_STATE_DRAINING); + if (atomic_dec_and_test(&cable->stop_count)) + wake_up(&cable->stop_wait); + } return 0; } @@ -1050,24 +1059,29 @@ static void free_cable(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) struct loopback *loopback = substream->private_data; int dev = get_cable_index(substream); struct loopback_cable *cable; + struct loopback_pcm *dpcm; + bool other_alive; cable = loopback->cables[substream->number][dev]; if (!cable) return; - if (cable->streams[!substream->stream]) { - /* other stream is still alive */ - spin_lock_irq(&cable->lock); - cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; - spin_unlock_irq(&cable->lock); - } else { - struct loopback_pcm *dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; - if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) - cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); - /* free the cable */ - loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; - kfree(cable); + scoped_guard(spinlock_irq, &cable->lock) { + cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; + other_alive = cable->streams[!substream->stream]; } + + /* Pair with the stop_count increment in loopback_check_format(). */ + wait_event(cable->stop_wait, !atomic_read(&cable->stop_count)); + if (other_alive) + return; + + dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; + if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) + cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); + /* free the cable */ + loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; + kfree(cable); } static int loopback_jiffies_timer_open(struct loopback_pcm *dpcm) @@ -1264,6 +1278,8 @@ static int loopback_open(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) goto unlock; } spin_lock_init(&cable->lock); + atomic_set(&cable->stop_count, 0); + init_waitqueue_head(&cable->stop_wait); cable->hw = loopback_pcm_hardware; if (loopback->timer_source) cable->ops = &loopback_snd_timer_ops; -- cgit 1.3-korg
e5c33cdc6f40ALSA: aloop: Fix peer runtime UAF during format-change stop
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.gitCássio GabrielApr 24, 2026via nvd-ref
1 file changed · +30 −14
sound/drivers/aloop.c+30 −14 modifieddiff --git a/sound/drivers/aloop.c b/sound/drivers/aloop.c index aa0d2fcb1a180c..a37a1695f51c7d 100644 --- a/sound/drivers/aloop.c +++ b/sound/drivers/aloop.c @@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ struct loopback_ops { struct loopback_cable { spinlock_t lock; struct loopback_pcm *streams[2]; + /* in-flight peer stops running outside cable->lock */ + atomic_t stop_count; + wait_queue_head_t stop_wait; struct snd_pcm_hardware hw; /* flags */ unsigned int valid; @@ -366,8 +369,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) return 0; if (stream == SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE) return -EIO; - else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) + else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) { + /* close must not free the peer runtime below */ + atomic_inc(&cable->stop_count); stop_capture = true; + } } setup = get_setup(dpcm_play); @@ -396,8 +402,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) } } - if (stop_capture) + if (stop_capture) { snd_pcm_stop(dpcm_capt->substream, SNDRV_PCM_STATE_DRAINING); + if (atomic_dec_and_test(&cable->stop_count)) + wake_up(&cable->stop_wait); + } return 0; } @@ -1049,23 +1058,29 @@ static void free_cable(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) struct loopback *loopback = substream->private_data; int dev = get_cable_index(substream); struct loopback_cable *cable; + struct loopback_pcm *dpcm; + bool other_alive; cable = loopback->cables[substream->number][dev]; if (!cable) return; - if (cable->streams[!substream->stream]) { - /* other stream is still alive */ - guard(spinlock_irq)(&cable->lock); - cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; - } else { - struct loopback_pcm *dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; - if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) - cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); - /* free the cable */ - loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; - kfree(cable); + scoped_guard(spinlock_irq, &cable->lock) { + cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; + other_alive = cable->streams[!substream->stream]; } + + /* Pair with the stop_count increment in loopback_check_format(). */ + wait_event(cable->stop_wait, !atomic_read(&cable->stop_count)); + if (other_alive) + return; + + dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; + if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) + cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); + /* free the cable */ + loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; + kfree(cable); } static int loopback_jiffies_timer_open(struct loopback_pcm *dpcm) @@ -1260,6 +1275,8 @@ static int loopback_open(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) goto unlock; } spin_lock_init(&cable->lock); + atomic_set(&cable->stop_count, 0); + init_waitqueue_head(&cable->stop_wait); cable->hw = loopback_pcm_hardware; if (loopback->timer_source) cable->ops = &loopback_snd_timer_ops; -- cgit 1.3-korg
bdd9503c3d22ALSA: aloop: Fix peer runtime UAF during format-change stop
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.gitCássio GabrielApr 24, 2026via nvd-ref
1 file changed · +30 −14
sound/drivers/aloop.c+30 −14 modifieddiff --git a/sound/drivers/aloop.c b/sound/drivers/aloop.c index aa0d2fcb1a180c..a37a1695f51c7d 100644 --- a/sound/drivers/aloop.c +++ b/sound/drivers/aloop.c @@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ struct loopback_ops { struct loopback_cable { spinlock_t lock; struct loopback_pcm *streams[2]; + /* in-flight peer stops running outside cable->lock */ + atomic_t stop_count; + wait_queue_head_t stop_wait; struct snd_pcm_hardware hw; /* flags */ unsigned int valid; @@ -366,8 +369,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) return 0; if (stream == SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE) return -EIO; - else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) + else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) { + /* close must not free the peer runtime below */ + atomic_inc(&cable->stop_count); stop_capture = true; + } } setup = get_setup(dpcm_play); @@ -396,8 +402,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) } } - if (stop_capture) + if (stop_capture) { snd_pcm_stop(dpcm_capt->substream, SNDRV_PCM_STATE_DRAINING); + if (atomic_dec_and_test(&cable->stop_count)) + wake_up(&cable->stop_wait); + } return 0; } @@ -1049,23 +1058,29 @@ static void free_cable(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) struct loopback *loopback = substream->private_data; int dev = get_cable_index(substream); struct loopback_cable *cable; + struct loopback_pcm *dpcm; + bool other_alive; cable = loopback->cables[substream->number][dev]; if (!cable) return; - if (cable->streams[!substream->stream]) { - /* other stream is still alive */ - guard(spinlock_irq)(&cable->lock); - cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; - } else { - struct loopback_pcm *dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; - if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) - cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); - /* free the cable */ - loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; - kfree(cable); + scoped_guard(spinlock_irq, &cable->lock) { + cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; + other_alive = cable->streams[!substream->stream]; } + + /* Pair with the stop_count increment in loopback_check_format(). */ + wait_event(cable->stop_wait, !atomic_read(&cable->stop_count)); + if (other_alive) + return; + + dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; + if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) + cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); + /* free the cable */ + loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; + kfree(cable); } static int loopback_jiffies_timer_open(struct loopback_pcm *dpcm) @@ -1260,6 +1275,8 @@ static int loopback_open(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) goto unlock; } spin_lock_init(&cable->lock); + atomic_set(&cable->stop_count, 0); + init_waitqueue_head(&cable->stop_wait); cable->hw = loopback_pcm_hardware; if (loopback->timer_source) cable->ops = &loopback_snd_timer_ops; -- cgit 1.3-korg
5d45e34bf001ALSA: aloop: Fix peer runtime UAF during format-change stop
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.gitCássio GabrielApr 24, 2026via nvd-ref
1 file changed · +30 −14
sound/drivers/aloop.c+30 −14 modifieddiff --git a/sound/drivers/aloop.c b/sound/drivers/aloop.c index aa0d2fcb1a180c..a37a1695f51c7d 100644 --- a/sound/drivers/aloop.c +++ b/sound/drivers/aloop.c @@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ struct loopback_ops { struct loopback_cable { spinlock_t lock; struct loopback_pcm *streams[2]; + /* in-flight peer stops running outside cable->lock */ + atomic_t stop_count; + wait_queue_head_t stop_wait; struct snd_pcm_hardware hw; /* flags */ unsigned int valid; @@ -366,8 +369,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) return 0; if (stream == SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE) return -EIO; - else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) + else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) { + /* close must not free the peer runtime below */ + atomic_inc(&cable->stop_count); stop_capture = true; + } } setup = get_setup(dpcm_play); @@ -396,8 +402,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) } } - if (stop_capture) + if (stop_capture) { snd_pcm_stop(dpcm_capt->substream, SNDRV_PCM_STATE_DRAINING); + if (atomic_dec_and_test(&cable->stop_count)) + wake_up(&cable->stop_wait); + } return 0; } @@ -1049,23 +1058,29 @@ static void free_cable(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) struct loopback *loopback = substream->private_data; int dev = get_cable_index(substream); struct loopback_cable *cable; + struct loopback_pcm *dpcm; + bool other_alive; cable = loopback->cables[substream->number][dev]; if (!cable) return; - if (cable->streams[!substream->stream]) { - /* other stream is still alive */ - guard(spinlock_irq)(&cable->lock); - cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; - } else { - struct loopback_pcm *dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; - if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) - cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); - /* free the cable */ - loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; - kfree(cable); + scoped_guard(spinlock_irq, &cable->lock) { + cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; + other_alive = cable->streams[!substream->stream]; } + + /* Pair with the stop_count increment in loopback_check_format(). */ + wait_event(cable->stop_wait, !atomic_read(&cable->stop_count)); + if (other_alive) + return; + + dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; + if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) + cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); + /* free the cable */ + loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; + kfree(cable); } static int loopback_jiffies_timer_open(struct loopback_pcm *dpcm) @@ -1260,6 +1275,8 @@ static int loopback_open(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) goto unlock; } spin_lock_init(&cable->lock); + atomic_set(&cable->stop_count, 0); + init_waitqueue_head(&cable->stop_wait); cable->hw = loopback_pcm_hardware; if (loopback->timer_source) cable->ops = &loopback_snd_timer_ops; -- cgit 1.3-korg
03f52a9c1704ALSA: aloop: Fix peer runtime UAF during format-change stop
1 file changed · +30 −15
sound/drivers/aloop.c+30 −15 modifieddiff --git a/sound/drivers/aloop.c b/sound/drivers/aloop.c index 09084cc89d654f..a71e74d496b07a 100644 --- a/sound/drivers/aloop.c +++ b/sound/drivers/aloop.c @@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ struct loopback_ops { struct loopback_cable { spinlock_t lock; struct loopback_pcm *streams[2]; + /* in-flight peer stops running outside cable->lock */ + atomic_t stop_count; + wait_queue_head_t stop_wait; struct snd_pcm_hardware hw; /* flags */ unsigned int valid; @@ -365,8 +368,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) return 0; if (stream == SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE) return -EIO; - else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) + else if (cruntime->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING) { + /* close must not free the peer runtime below */ + atomic_inc(&cable->stop_count); stop_capture = true; + } } setup = get_setup(dpcm_play); @@ -395,8 +401,11 @@ static int loopback_check_format(struct loopback_cable *cable, int stream) } } - if (stop_capture) + if (stop_capture) { snd_pcm_stop(dpcm_capt->substream, SNDRV_PCM_STATE_DRAINING); + if (atomic_dec_and_test(&cable->stop_count)) + wake_up(&cable->stop_wait); + } return 0; } @@ -1050,24 +1059,29 @@ static void free_cable(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) struct loopback *loopback = substream->private_data; int dev = get_cable_index(substream); struct loopback_cable *cable; + struct loopback_pcm *dpcm; + bool other_alive; cable = loopback->cables[substream->number][dev]; if (!cable) return; - if (cable->streams[!substream->stream]) { - /* other stream is still alive */ - spin_lock_irq(&cable->lock); - cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; - spin_unlock_irq(&cable->lock); - } else { - struct loopback_pcm *dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; - if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) - cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); - /* free the cable */ - loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; - kfree(cable); + scoped_guard(spinlock_irq, &cable->lock) { + cable->streams[substream->stream] = NULL; + other_alive = cable->streams[!substream->stream]; } + + /* Pair with the stop_count increment in loopback_check_format(). */ + wait_event(cable->stop_wait, !atomic_read(&cable->stop_count)); + if (other_alive) + return; + + dpcm = substream->runtime->private_data; + if (cable->ops && cable->ops->close_cable && dpcm) + cable->ops->close_cable(dpcm); + /* free the cable */ + loopback->cables[substream->number][dev] = NULL; + kfree(cable); } static int loopback_jiffies_timer_open(struct loopback_pcm *dpcm) @@ -1264,6 +1278,8 @@ static int loopback_open(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream) goto unlock; } spin_lock_init(&cable->lock); + atomic_set(&cable->stop_count, 0); + init_waitqueue_head(&cable->stop_wait); cable->hw = loopback_pcm_hardware; if (loopback->timer_source) cable->ops = &loopback_snd_timer_ops; -- cgit 1.3-korg
Vulnerability mechanics
Root cause
"Missing synchronization between the format-change peer-stop path and the close path allows a use-after-free of the peer PCM runtime."
Attack vector
An attacker triggers a use-after-free by racing a playback start (which calls `loopback_check_format()`) against a concurrent close of the capture stream. When playback starts with parameters that mismatch a running capture stream, `loopback_check_format()` decides to stop the capture peer. It looks up the peer substream under `cable->lock`, increments `stop_capture`, then drops the lock before calling `snd_pcm_stop()`. If a concurrent close on the capture side runs `free_cable()` during that window, it clears the capture entry from `cable->streams[]` and frees the runtime while the playback path still holds a stale pointer to the peer substream. This is a classic time-of-check/time-of-use race between the format-change stop path and the close path [patch_id=2659779].
Affected code
The vulnerability is in `sound/drivers/aloop.c`, specifically in the `loopback_check_format()` function and the `free_cable()` function. `loopback_check_format()` calls `snd_pcm_stop()` on a peer substream after dropping `cable->lock`, while `free_cable()` clears the peer's entry from `cable->streams[]` and may free the runtime. The `loopback_cable` struct lacks synchronization for the window between the lock drop and the stop call.
What the fix does
The patch adds an `atomic_t stop_count` and a `wait_queue_head_t stop_wait` to `struct loopback_cable`. Before dropping `cable->lock` in `loopback_check_format()`, the code increments `stop_count` via `atomic_inc()`. After `snd_pcm_stop()` completes, it decrements with `atomic_dec_and_test()` and wakes the wait queue. In `free_cable()`, after clearing the stream entry under the lock, the function calls `wait_event(cable->stop_wait, !atomic_read(&cable->stop_count))` to block until any in-flight peer stop finishes. This ensures the peer runtime is not freed while `snd_pcm_stop()` is still using it, making the runtime lifetime explicit [patch_id=2659779].
Preconditions
- configThe snd-aloop kernel module must be loaded and in use.
- inputA capture PCM substream must be in SNDRV_PCM_STATE_RUNNING state.
- inputA playback PCM substream must start with parameters that do not match the running capture stream.
- inputA concurrent close of the capture substream must occur during the window between the lock drop and snd_pcm_stop() in loopback_check_format().
Generated on May 27, 2026. Inputs: CWE entries + fix-commit diffs from this CVE's patches. Citations validated against bundle.
References
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