[PATCH] ALSA: seq: fix use-after-free of borrowed substream in snd-seq-midi

[PATCH] ALSA: seq: fix use-after-free of borrowed substream in snd-seq-midi

[Doruk Tan Ozturk]

event_process_midi() borrows the rawmidi output substream via
msynth->output_rfile.output and uses it through dump_midi() ->
snd_rawmidi_kernel_write() -> snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1() without
synchronizing against a concurrent port unsubscribe.

A concurrent UNSUBSCRIBE_PORT on the output connection runs the
unuse callback midisynth_unuse() -> snd_rawmidi_kernel_release() ->
close_substream() -> snd_rawmidi_runtime_free(), freeing
substream->runtime while an in-flight event_input callback is still
inside snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1(). The borrowed substream runtime is
exposed to teardown before the write path takes its own buffer
reference (snd_rawmidi_buffer_ref()), so the early derefs of
substream->runtime / runtime->buffer read freed memory.

The buggy scenario involves two paths, with each column showing the
order within that path:

  path A: event_input path                path B: last unuse path
  1. event_process_midi() reads           1. midisynth_unuse() runs on the
     msynth->output_rfile.output.            last UNSUBSCRIBE_PORT.
  2. snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1() has      2. snd_rawmidi_kernel_release()
     not yet pinned runtime.                 closes the output file.
  3. The writer continues using           3. close_substream() frees
     the borrowed substream.                 substream->runtime.

This is the snd-seq-midi sibling of the UMP-bridge race fixed by
commit 60a1969fae62 ("ALSA: seq: Serialize UMP output teardown with
event_input"); mirror its approach here.

Add a per-msynth rwlock for the event_input-visible output file.
Publish a newly opened output file under the write side once it is
fully set up, and hold the read side from the output lookup through
snd_rawmidi_kernel_write() in event_process_midi(). The last unuse
copies and clears the visible output file under the write side, then
drops the lock and drains/releases the saved rawmidi file outside it
(drain/release may sleep). Use IRQ-safe rwlock guards because
event_input can be reached from atomic sequencer delivery.

Reproduced under KASAN: a single subscription to the midisynth output
port (so the subscriber count oscillates 0<->1 and every unsubscribe
frees the runtime via snd_rawmidi_kernel_release) is raced against a
flood of events driving event_process_midi -> snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1.
The narrow window (the runtime is read before snd_rawmidi_buffer_ref())
was widened with an injected delay to land the race deterministically;
the freed object is the kmalloc-192 snd_rawmidi_runtime. With this patch
applied the same forced race shows no use-after-free.

  BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1+0x73e/0x800
  Read of size 8 at addr ffff88800b04f310 by task seqmidi_uaf2/84
  Call Trace:
   snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1+0x73e/0x800
   __dump_midi+0x70/0x100
   dump_var_event+0x290/0x320
   event_process_midi+0x1ff/0x310
   snd_seq_deliver_single_event+0x1e6/0x670
   snd_seq_deliver_event+0x323/0x5f0
   snd_seq_client_enqueue_event.constprop.0+0x226/0x400
   snd_seq_write+0x2f1/0x530
   vfs_write+0x21e/0xd30
   ksys_write+0x17c/0x1c0
   do_syscall_64+0xf9/0x540

  Allocated by task 85:
   open_substream+0xc7/0x7a0
   rawmidi_open_priv+0x3df/0x660
   snd_rawmidi_kernel_open+0x95/0x140
   midisynth_use+0xda/0x1f0
   check_and_subscribe_port+0x707/0xbd0
   snd_seq_ioctl_subscribe_port+0x1f4/0x400

  Freed by task 85:
   close_substream.part.0+0x1f9/0x790
   rawmidi_release_priv+0x1b0/0x240
   snd_rawmidi_kernel_release+0x2d/0xb0
   __delete_and_unsubscribe_port+0x1b9/0x3c0
   snd_seq_ioctl_unsubscribe_port+0x1ee/0x400

  The buggy address belongs to the object at ffff88800b04f300
   which belongs to the cache kmalloc-192 of size 192

Found by 0sec.
Fixes: 1da177e4c3f4 ("Linux-2.6.12-rc2")
Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org
Signed-off-by: Doruk Tan Ozturk <doruk@0sec.ai>
---
 sound/core/seq/seq_midi.c | 39 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------
 1 file changed, 32 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/sound/core/seq/seq_midi.c b/sound/core/seq/seq_midi.c
index ca3f5fc30992..c79c628561ce 100644
--- a/sound/core/seq/seq_midi.c
+++ b/sound/core/seq/seq_midi.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ Possible options for midisynth module:
 #include <linux/string.h>
 #include <linux/module.h>
 #include <linux/mutex.h>
+#include <linux/spinlock.h>
 #include <sound/core.h>
 #include <sound/rawmidi.h>
 #include <sound/seq_kernel.h>
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ struct seq_midisynth {
 	int subdevice;
 	struct snd_rawmidi_file input_rfile;
 	struct snd_rawmidi_file output_rfile;
+	rwlock_t output_lock;	/* protects output_rfile.output access */
 	int seq_client;
 	int seq_port;
 	struct snd_midi_event *parser;
@@ -129,6 +131,13 @@ static int event_process_midi(struct snd_seq_event *ev, int direct,
 
 	if (snd_BUG_ON(!msynth))
 		return -EINVAL;
+	/*
+	 * Hold the read side across the whole borrowed-substream use so a
+	 * concurrent port unsubscribe (midisynth_unuse) cannot release the
+	 * rawmidi file and free substream->runtime under us. IRQ-safe because
+	 * event_input can be reached from atomic sequencer delivery.
+	 */
+	guard(read_lock_irqsave)(&msynth->output_lock);
 	substream = msynth->output_rfile.output;
 	if (substream == NULL)
 		return -ENODEV;
@@ -160,6 +169,7 @@ static int snd_seq_midisynth_new(struct seq_midisynth *msynth,
 {
 	if (snd_midi_event_new(MAX_MIDI_EVENT_BUF, &msynth->parser) < 0)
 		return -ENOMEM;
+	rwlock_init(&msynth->output_lock);
 	msynth->card = card;
 	msynth->device = device;
 	msynth->subdevice = subdevice;
@@ -215,12 +225,13 @@ static int midisynth_use(void *private_data, struct snd_seq_port_subscribe *info
 {
 	int err;
 	struct seq_midisynth *msynth = private_data;
+	struct snd_rawmidi_file rfile = {};
 	struct snd_rawmidi_params params;
 
 	/* open midi port */
 	err = snd_rawmidi_kernel_open(msynth->rmidi, msynth->subdevice,
 				      SNDRV_RAWMIDI_LFLG_OUTPUT,
-				      &msynth->output_rfile);
+				      &rfile);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_debug("ALSA: seq_midi: midi output open failed!!!\n");
 		return err;
@@ -229,12 +240,15 @@ static int midisynth_use(void *private_data, struct snd_seq_port_subscribe *info
 	params.avail_min = 1;
 	params.buffer_size = output_buffer_size;
 	params.no_active_sensing = 1;
-	err = snd_rawmidi_output_params(msynth->output_rfile.output, &params);
+	err = snd_rawmidi_output_params(rfile.output, &params);
 	if (err < 0) {
-		snd_rawmidi_kernel_release(&msynth->output_rfile);
+		snd_rawmidi_kernel_release(&rfile);
 		return err;
 	}
 	snd_midi_event_reset_decode(msynth->parser);
+	/* publish the opened file only after it is fully set up */
+	scoped_guard(write_lock_irqsave, &msynth->output_lock)
+		msynth->output_rfile = rfile;
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -242,11 +256,22 @@ static int midisynth_use(void *private_data, struct snd_seq_port_subscribe *info
 static int midisynth_unuse(void *private_data, struct snd_seq_port_subscribe *info)
 {
 	struct seq_midisynth *msynth = private_data;
-
-	if (snd_BUG_ON(!msynth->output_rfile.output))
+	struct snd_rawmidi_file rfile = {};
+
+	/*
+	 * Detach the borrowed output file under the write side so any in-flight
+	 * event_process_midi() either still sees the live substream (and is
+	 * drained out by the read lock) or sees NULL. Then drain and release
+	 * outside the lock, since those paths may sleep.
+	 */
+	scoped_guard(write_lock_irqsave, &msynth->output_lock) {
+		rfile = msynth->output_rfile;
+		msynth->output_rfile = (struct snd_rawmidi_file){};
+	}
+	if (snd_BUG_ON(!rfile.output))
 		return -EINVAL;
-	snd_rawmidi_drain_output(msynth->output_rfile.output);
-	return snd_rawmidi_kernel_release(&msynth->output_rfile);
+	snd_rawmidi_drain_output(rfile.output);
+	return snd_rawmidi_kernel_release(&rfile);
 }
 
 /* delete given midi synth port */
-- 
2.43.0

Re: [PATCH] ALSA: seq: fix use-after-free of borrowed substream in snd-seq-midi

[Takashi Iwai]

On Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:03:36 +0200,
Doruk Tan Ozturk wrote:
> 
> event_process_midi() borrows the rawmidi output substream via
> msynth->output_rfile.output and uses it through dump_midi() ->
> snd_rawmidi_kernel_write() -> snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1() without
> synchronizing against a concurrent port unsubscribe.
> 
> A concurrent UNSUBSCRIBE_PORT on the output connection runs the
> unuse callback midisynth_unuse() -> snd_rawmidi_kernel_release() ->
> close_substream() -> snd_rawmidi_runtime_free(), freeing
> substream->runtime while an in-flight event_input callback is still
> inside snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1(). The borrowed substream runtime is
> exposed to teardown before the write path takes its own buffer
> reference (snd_rawmidi_buffer_ref()), so the early derefs of
> substream->runtime / runtime->buffer read freed memory.
> 
> The buggy scenario involves two paths, with each column showing the
> order within that path:
> 
>   path A: event_input path                path B: last unuse path
>   1. event_process_midi() reads           1. midisynth_unuse() runs on the
>      msynth->output_rfile.output.            last UNSUBSCRIBE_PORT.
>   2. snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1() has      2. snd_rawmidi_kernel_release()
>      not yet pinned runtime.                 closes the output file.
>   3. The writer continues using           3. close_substream() frees
>      the borrowed substream.                 substream->runtime.
> 
> This is the snd-seq-midi sibling of the UMP-bridge race fixed by
> commit 60a1969fae62 ("ALSA: seq: Serialize UMP output teardown with
> event_input"); mirror its approach here.
> 
> Add a per-msynth rwlock for the event_input-visible output file.
> Publish a newly opened output file under the write side once it is
> fully set up, and hold the read side from the output lookup through
> snd_rawmidi_kernel_write() in event_process_midi(). The last unuse
> copies and clears the visible output file under the write side, then
> drops the lock and drains/releases the saved rawmidi file outside it
> (drain/release may sleep). Use IRQ-safe rwlock guards because
> event_input can be reached from atomic sequencer delivery.
> 
> Reproduced under KASAN: a single subscription to the midisynth output
> port (so the subscriber count oscillates 0<->1 and every unsubscribe
> frees the runtime via snd_rawmidi_kernel_release) is raced against a
> flood of events driving event_process_midi -> snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1.
> The narrow window (the runtime is read before snd_rawmidi_buffer_ref())
> was widened with an injected delay to land the race deterministically;
> the freed object is the kmalloc-192 snd_rawmidi_runtime. With this patch
> applied the same forced race shows no use-after-free.
> 
>   BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1+0x73e/0x800
>   Read of size 8 at addr ffff88800b04f310 by task seqmidi_uaf2/84
>   Call Trace:
>    snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1+0x73e/0x800
>    __dump_midi+0x70/0x100
>    dump_var_event+0x290/0x320
>    event_process_midi+0x1ff/0x310
>    snd_seq_deliver_single_event+0x1e6/0x670
>    snd_seq_deliver_event+0x323/0x5f0
>    snd_seq_client_enqueue_event.constprop.0+0x226/0x400
>    snd_seq_write+0x2f1/0x530
>    vfs_write+0x21e/0xd30
>    ksys_write+0x17c/0x1c0
>    do_syscall_64+0xf9/0x540
> 
>   Allocated by task 85:
>    open_substream+0xc7/0x7a0
>    rawmidi_open_priv+0x3df/0x660
>    snd_rawmidi_kernel_open+0x95/0x140
>    midisynth_use+0xda/0x1f0
>    check_and_subscribe_port+0x707/0xbd0
>    snd_seq_ioctl_subscribe_port+0x1f4/0x400
> 
>   Freed by task 85:
>    close_substream.part.0+0x1f9/0x790
>    rawmidi_release_priv+0x1b0/0x240
>    snd_rawmidi_kernel_release+0x2d/0xb0
>    __delete_and_unsubscribe_port+0x1b9/0x3c0
>    snd_seq_ioctl_unsubscribe_port+0x1ee/0x400
> 
>   The buggy address belongs to the object at ffff88800b04f300
>    which belongs to the cache kmalloc-192 of size 192
> 
> Found by 0sec.
> Fixes: 1da177e4c3f4 ("Linux-2.6.12-rc2")
> Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org
> Signed-off-by: Doruk Tan Ozturk <doruk@0sec.ai>

There has been already a similar fix queued in sound.git tree for-next
branch:
ef7607ab1c8adc6258fb1b27d08e26aecdc18a58
    ALSA: seq: midi: Serialize output teardown with event_input

I believe this already addressed the bug.

Let me know if there is still anything missing.


thanks,

Takashi

Re: [PATCH] ALSA: seq: fix use-after-free of borrowed substream in snd-seq-midi

[Doruk Tan Ozturk]

On Wed, 11 Jun 2026, Takashi Iwai wrote:
> There has been already a similar fix queued in sound.git tree for-next
> branch:
> ef7607ab1c8adc6258fb1b27d08e26aecdc18a58
>     ALSA: seq: midi: Serialize output teardown with event_input
>
> I believe this already addressed the bug.
>
> Let me know if there is still anything missing.

Hi Takashi,

Thanks for checking, and you're right -- ef7607ab1c8a ("ALSA: seq: midi:
Serialize output teardown with event_input") addresses the same race my
patch targeted: event_process_midi() borrowing msynth->output_rfile.output
while a concurrent midisynth_unuse() releases the rawmidi file and frees
substream->runtime before snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1() pins the runtime
buffer. That commit serializes the output_rfile publish/clear and pairs the
output snapshot with an in-flight reference, which closes the window, so my
patch is redundant.

Please drop mine; nothing further needed. Thanks!

Doruk

Re: [PATCH] ALSA: seq: fix use-after-free of borrowed substream in snd-seq-midi

[Takashi Iwai]

On Mon, 15 Jun 2026 02:28:21 +0200,
Doruk Tan Ozturk wrote:
> 
> On Wed, 11 Jun 2026, Takashi Iwai wrote:
> > There has been already a similar fix queued in sound.git tree for-next
> > branch:
> > ef7607ab1c8adc6258fb1b27d08e26aecdc18a58
> >     ALSA: seq: midi: Serialize output teardown with event_input
> >
> > I believe this already addressed the bug.
> >
> > Let me know if there is still anything missing.
> 
> Hi Takashi,
> 
> Thanks for checking, and you're right -- ef7607ab1c8a ("ALSA: seq: midi:
> Serialize output teardown with event_input") addresses the same race my
> patch targeted: event_process_midi() borrowing msynth->output_rfile.output
> while a concurrent midisynth_unuse() releases the rawmidi file and frees
> substream->runtime before snd_rawmidi_kernel_write1() pins the runtime
> buffer. That commit serializes the output_rfile publish/clear and pairs the
> output snapshot with an in-flight reference, which closes the window, so my
> patch is redundant.
> 
> Please drop mine; nothing further needed. Thanks!

Thanks for confirmation!


Takashi