What is CVE-2023-0266?

CVE-2023-0266 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.0 out of 10, classified as a Use After Free flaw (CWE-416). CVE-2023-0266 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2023-0266?

CVE-2023-0266 has a CVSS score of 7.0 out of 10, rated High severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2023-0266?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2023-0266. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

Is CVE-2023-0266 actively exploited?

Yes — CVE-2023-0266 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild with a CVSS score of 7.0 (High severity).

What is Use After Free (CWE-416)?

The product references memory after it has been freed, which may cause it to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/416.html

CVE-2023-0266

High KEV — Actively Exploited

A use after free vulnerability exists in the ALSA PCM package in the Linux Kernel. SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_{READ|WRITE}32 is missing locks that can be used in a use-after-free that can result in a priviledge escalation to gain ring0 access from the system user. We recommend upgrading past commit 56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c83927b7ebb055e

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2023-01-30

Last modified 2025-10-24

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Awaiting data

CVSS 3.1 score

7.0

out of 10

High

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

High

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Vector string

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-416

CVE-2023-0266 is a Use After Free vulnerability

What is Use After Free?

The product references memory after it has been freed, which may cause it to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Learn more on MITRE CWE

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2023-0266 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Debian Security
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/05/msg00006.html

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
CISA
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-0266

US Government Resource
Kernel patch commit
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/stable-queue.git/tree/queue-5.10/alsa-pcm-move-rwsem-lock-inside-snd_ctl_elem_read-to-prevent-uaf.patch?id=72783cf35e6c55bca84c4bb7b776c58152856fd4
Patch
Kernel patch commit
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/56b88b50565cd8b946a2d00b0c83927b7ebb055e
Patch
Kernel patch commit
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/becf9e5d553c2389d857a3c178ce80fdb34a02e1
Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2023-0266

Severity High

CVSS score 7.0 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2023-01-30

Modified 2025-10-24

KEV Yes

Patch Awaiting data

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-0266?

CVE-2023-0266 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.0 out of 10 , classified as an Use After Free flaw (CWE-416) . CVE-2023-0266 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2023-0266?

CVE-2023-0266 has a CVSS score of 7.0 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2023-0266?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2023-0266. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.
Is CVE-2023-0266 actively exploited?

Yes — CVE-2023-0266 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. It carries a CVSS score of 7.0 (High severity).
What is Use After Free (CWE-416)?

The product references memory after it has been freed, which may cause it to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. View CWE-416 on MITRE CWE →