# CVE-2026-98266: ALSA: core: Fix potential UAF after asynchronous card release

CVE-2026-98266 is fixed in 37 products on 1 platform, first by DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98266, released October 6, 2026. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-98266
- Priority: Routine
- CVSS: 5.5 (Moderate)
- EPSS: 0.0017
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Oct 6, 2026
- Vendor advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-98266

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:  ALSA: core: Fix potential UAF after asynchronous card release  Usually a sound driver releases the resources assigned to the card via snd_card_free(), and it synchronizes with the whole release procedure. However, when the card is released asynchronously via snd_card_free_when_closed() like USB-audio driver, the situation is slightly different; although the snd_card_disconnect() call at the disconnection guarantees that any newer accesses will be gated, the in-flight tasks might be still accessing to the underlying card->dev device even after the disconnection, which would cause a use-after-free in the end, as reported by fuzzers.  For addressing the bug above, this patch takes the refcount of card->dev at initialization of the card object, and releases at its destructor.   This assures the availability of the card->dev in its whole lifecycle.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | kernel-uek ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-core ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-core ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-core ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-core ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-devel ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-devel ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-core ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-core ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-deprecated ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-deprecated ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-desktop ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-desktop ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-extra ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-extra ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-extra-netfilter ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-extra-netfilter ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-usb ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-usb ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-wireless ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-wireless ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-devel ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-devel ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-doc ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-doc ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-core ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-core ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-deprecated ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-deprecated ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-desktop ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-desktop ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-extra ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-extra ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-extra-netfilter ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-extra-netfilter ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-usb ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-usb ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-wireless ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-wireless ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-tools ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-tools ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-core ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-core ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-devel ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-devel ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-core ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-core ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-deprecated ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-deprecated ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-desktop ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-desktop ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-extra ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-extra ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-extra-netfilter ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-extra-netfilter ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-usb ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-usb ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-wireless ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-wireless ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-208.112.5.el9uek | [ELSA-2026-500572](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500572.md) | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Linux | linux Debian 13.5 (trixie) | 6.12.113-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98266](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-98266.md) | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Linux | linux Debian 14 | 7.2.8-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98266](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-98266.md) | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Linux | linux-6.12 Debian 12.15 (bookworm) | 6.12.113-1~deb12u1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98266](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-98266.md) | Oct 6, 2026 |

---

Data as of 2026-11-08T19:12:23Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

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