CVE-2026-97931: Linux kernel · ALSA: us122l: Prevent write upgrades for read mappings
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.0 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 3% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 Sep 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 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?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 fix has been implemented in the Linux kernel to clear the VM_MAYWRITE flag on read-buffer mappings after rejecting initially writable VMAs, preventing permission upgrades via mprotect(). Users should apply the official kernel updates that include this fix. Patch status is confirmed resolved in the referenced kernel versions. No additional mitigation is required once the fix is applied.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel ALSA us122l driver allowed processes with read-only mappings to later upgrade those mappings to writable, potentially enabling unauthorized memory access and corruption. This was due to the hwdep mmap callback leaving VM_MAYWRITE set on read-only mappings, allowing mprotect() to make them writable. The flaw could lead to out-of-bounds memory access and improper page freeing. The issue has been resolved by clearing VM_MAYWRITE on read-buffer mappings after rejecting initially writable VMAs.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-97931 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-97931 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/64a87950239867682cde128020e1a47088295e5c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d9c537b14f4982f17b103e3a2cfeee4bee6bc026 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/71c610aeb1770302ac9c9e0b9a4ecd37f1311928 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0eb9dd4774af0ac4d1fd105ef2b0a1f6cec06f2f (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97931 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6a5f5a5a32c78e67701f1d0f26bc87af68895604 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/938e8d6cee8d36f24669dfdcd3717e081eb32d64 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/becb89036a1320ef0a77da2d27935ac0704345c4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cbc1f954ce67d739d41d1f0757d29850353ebb6a (opens in a new tab)