High · published August 15, 2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ALSA: seq: midi: Serialize output teardown with event_input
event_process_midi() borrows msynth->output_rfile.output and then
passes the substream to dump_midi() and snd_rawmidi_kernel_write()
without synchronizing with the output open/close transition.
midisynth_use() also publishes output_rfile before
snd_rawmidi_output_params() has finished.
The last midisynth_unuse() can therefore release the same rawmidi file
and free substream->runtime before snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1() takes
its runtime buffer reference. That leaves the event_input path using a
stale substream or runtime and can end in a NULL-deref or use-after-free.
Fix this with two pieces of synchronization. Keep a short IRQ-safe
spinlock only for publishing or clearing output_rfile and for pairing
the output snapshot with an snd_use_lock_t reference. Once
event_process_midi() has taken that in-flight reference, it drops the
spinlock before calling snd_seq_dump_var_event(), dump_midi(), or
snd_rawmidi_kernel_write(). midisynth_unuse() now detaches the visible
rawmidi file under the same spinlock, waits for the in-flight writers
to drain, and only then drains and releases the saved file.
midisynth_use() likewise opens into a local snd_rawmidi_file and
publishes it only after snd_rawmidi_output_params() succeeds.
The buggy scenario involves two paths, with each column showing the
order within that path:
event_input path: last unuse path:
1. event_process_midi() snapshots 1. midisynth_unuse() starts
output_rfile.output. tearing down output_rfile.
2. dump_midi() reaches 2. snd_rawmidi_kernel_release()
snd_rawmidi_kernel_write() closes the output file.
before runtime is pinned. 3. close_substream() frees
3. The callback keeps using substream->runtime.
the borrowed substream.
Validation reproduced this kernel report:
KASAN null-ptr-deref in snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1+0x56/0x360
RIP: 0033:0x7fde7dd0837f
RIP: 0010:snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1+0x56/0x360