Linux kernel ALSA HDA tracepoint reads stream before NULL check
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel from 4.2 contains a flaw in its ALSA HDA audio driver, where the PCM open tracepoint runs before checking that stream assignment succeeded. Stream assignment can fail when hardware streams are exhausted, and the tracepoint payload then reads a stream tag that was never assigned. The flaw was found by static analysis and reviewed with AI-assisted source auditing.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ALSA: hda: trace PCM open only after assigning a stream Stream assignment can fail when hardware streams are exhausted. Move the tracepoint after the NULL check because its payload accesses the assigned stream tag. Detected by static analysis and reviewed with AI-assisted source auditing.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
The Linux kernel fixed versions are 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8 and 7.3. Red Hat rates the flaw Low and lists no fix plan available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98308
- 2026-10-06 Alias added: GHSA-pq22-7f6j-hfpf
- 2026-10-11 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-11 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-11-07 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5a4c974dee03cc46eac43c82f33e34ec94f0b348
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fba079ea22822248c82c3a999c88676d05b17bda
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c6ca6d9342f4a0be7c1413180e11023d13b5cde
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0a52ba6d3b268bb82f0ec4cb861bc68d252369c0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5c89e7965220e85d06ae4c58adb7d7bb6da2440c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8477643cb91c9e09ac1b11890eef421ae63e53f7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3db8afba2d210b7d80cd5cc6b76d7f46daa9b47a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c9e6e5f38bf75276605f1952b22285f5f3abcaff
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98308 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98308 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-pq22-7f6j-hfpf · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98308 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences