CVE-2026-43437: Linux kernel · Use After Free
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 5% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 8 May 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.17.0-40.40?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1019.19?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1020.20?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@6.17.0-1020.22?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix is available and should be applied by updating to patched Linux kernel versions. The vendor advisory from Ubuntu confirms that this issue has been resolved in security updates. Users should apply the official kernel updates provided by their distribution to mitigate this vulnerability.
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability in the ALSA pcm linked stream runtime in the Linux kernel was fixed. The issue involved accessing freed memory after releasing a stream lock in snd_pcm_drain(), potentially leading to memory corruption. The fix caches needed runtime fields before releasing the lock to prevent use-after-free. This vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions and has a high severity score.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-43437 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-43437 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/9b1dbd69ba6f8f8c69bc7b77c2ce3b9c6ed05ba6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4a758e9a1f5ed722f83c4dd35f867fe811553bcb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/629cf09464cf98670996ea5c191dc9743e6f3f00 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9b1dbd69ba6f8f8c69bc7b77c2ce3b9c6ed05ba6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9baee36e8c5443411c4629afabafaff8a46a23fd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ae8f8d30d334bad5b1b3cdb1eb8a0b771f55e432 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c2f64e05a0587a83ec42dbd6b7a7ded79b2ff694 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fc71f888994569f87d5bee20b1ac6c9c1e3a7a79 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8567-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8574-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8574-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8596-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8606-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8607-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8608-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8609-1 (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-43437 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f2cb2e0d27fb925c73a78f0ce7d6dbf68d3747c1 (opens in a new tab)