CVE-2026-46088: Linux kernel · ALSA: control: Validate buf_len before strnlen() in snd_ctl_elem_init_enum_names()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 7.0.0-27.27 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 2% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 7.0.0-27.27, 7.0.0-1008.8, 7.0.0-1007.7 +4
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 27 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
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@7.0.0-27.27?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@7.0.0-1009.9?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | 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 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@7.0.0-1007.7?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-ibmpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-ibm@7.0.0-1009.9?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther 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 patch is available that adds a buffer length check before calling strnlen() in the ALSA control subsystem. Users should apply the official Linux kernel updates that include this fix. The Ubuntu security advisory USN-8488-1 confirms that this and other Linux kernel vulnerabilities have been addressed. No additional mitigation steps are indicated.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel ALSA control subsystem was resolved by adding a validation check on the buffer length before calling strnlen() in the snd_ctl_elem_init_enum_names() function. Without this check, a zero-length buffer could cause a kernel panic due to a BRK exception triggered by fortified strnlen() when compiled with Clang. This issue was discovered through kernel fuzz testing on a Xiaomi smartphone and affects specific Linux kernel versions.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-46088 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-46088 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/e0da8a8cac74f4b9f577979d131f0d2b88a84487 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8488-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8489-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8488-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8507-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8569-1 (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-8575-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8576-1 (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-8575-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8576-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8597-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8603-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-2 (opens in a new tab)