Description
The snd_ctl_elem_add function in sound/core/control.c in the ALSA control implementation in the Linux kernel before 3.15.2 does not properly maintain the user_ctl_count value, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (integer overflow and limit bypass) by leveraging /dev/snd/controlCX access for a large number of SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_REPLACE ioctl calls.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 3.14.9-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.14.9-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.14.9-1 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.32-48squeeze9 | DLA-103-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +6 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +4 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-35.62 | USN-2337-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.15 | No fix yet | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | perf +17 | 3.10.0-123.13.1.el7 | RHSA-2014:1971 |
| RHEL 6 | perf +16 | 2.6.32-504.el6 | RHSA-2014:1392 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +10 | 3.10.33-rt32.45.el6rt | RHSA-2014:1083 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-3.8.13-44.1.3.el6uek | 0.4.3-4.el6 | ELSA-2014-3081 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-3.8.13-44.1.3.el7uek | 0.4.3-4.el7 | ELSA-2014-3081 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | kernel-uek +5 | 3.8.13-44.1.3.el7uek | ELSA-2014-3081 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +11 | 3.10.0-123.13.1.el7 | ELSA-2014-1971 |
Advisories 7
- RHSA-2014:1971 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2014:1392 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-2337-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-103-1 linux-2.6 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RHSA-2014:1083 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
- ELSA-2014-1971 Important: kernel security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Dec 9, 2014
- ELSA-2014-3081 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Oct 17, 2014
References
- 60545 third-party-advisory
- USN-2335-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-2334-1 vendor-advisory
- 68162 vdb-entry
- 60564 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2014:1083 vendor-advisory
- 1036763 vdb-entry
- 59777 third-party-advisory
- 59434 third-party-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.15.2
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1113445
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/82262a46627bebb0febcc26664746c25cef08563
- [oss-security] 20140626 Re: CVE Request: Linux kernel ALSA core control API vulnerabilities mailing-list
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=82262a46627bebb0febcc26664746c25cef08563
- SUSE-SU-2015:0812 vendor-advisory