CVE-2020-11725

Name: CVE-2020-11725
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2020-04-12T22:15:11.9+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 7.8/10EPSS 0.51%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2020-11725 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 7.8/10 on the CVSS scale. snd_ctl_elem_add in sound/core/control.c in the Linux kernel through 5.6.3 has a count=info->owner line, which later affects a private_size*count multiplication for unspecified "interesting side effects." NOTE: kernel engineers dispute this finding, because it could be relevant only if new callers were added that were unfamiliar with the misuse of the info->owner field to represent data unrelated to the "owner" concept. The existing callers, SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_ADD and SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_REPLACE, have been designed to misuse the info->owner field in a safe way. EPSS estimates a 0.51% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

snd_ctl_elem_add in sound/core/control.c in the Linux kernel through 5.6.3 has a count=info->owner line, which later affects a private_size*count multiplication for unspecified "interesting side effects." NOTE: kernel engineers dispute this finding, because it could be relevant only if new callers were added that were unfamiliar with the misuse of the info->owner field to represent data unrelated to the "owner" concept. The existing callers, SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_ADD and SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_REPLACE, have been designed to misuse the info->owner field in a safe way

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.8/10

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

EPSS Probability

0.51%

39.6th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-704

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux Kernel	<= 5.6.3

References

https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/3b2549a3740efb8af0150415737067d87e466c5b/sound/core/control.c#L1434-L1474Exploit, Third Party Advisory
https://lore.kernel.org/alsa-devel/s5h4ktmlfpx.wl-tiwai%40suse.de/
https://twitter.com/yabbadabbadrew/status/1248632267028582400Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/3b2549a3740efb8af0150415737067d87e466c5b/sound/core/control.c#L1434-L1474Exploit, Third Party Advisory
https://lore.kernel.org/alsa-devel/s5h4ktmlfpx.wl-tiwai%40suse.de/
https://twitter.com/yabbadabbadrew/status/1248632267028582400Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Apr 12, 2020
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-11725?

How severe is CVE-2020-11725?

CVE-2020-11725 has a CVSS score of 7.8/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.51% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2020-11725?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2020-11725?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

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Source: NVD / NIST