CVE-2025-38249

Kernel-memory disclosure via undersized USB descriptor

Published Jul 9, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Out-of-bounds read in Linux 4.17 through 6.16-rc3 allows physically proximate attackers to read kernel memory via a USB audio device. The snd_usb_get_audioformat_uac3() path allocates the device-reported length, casts the undersized buffer to uac3_cluster_header_descriptor, and reads fields without checking the structure size. Exploitation requires attaching a malicious UAC3 device and triggering descriptor parsing; the bounded consequence is kernel-memory disclosure.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds read in Linux 4.17 through 6.16-rc3 allows physically proximate attackers to read kernel memory via a USB audio device. The snd_usb_get_audioformat_uac3() path allocates the device-reported length, casts the undersized buffer to uac3_cluster_header_descriptor, and reads fields without checking the structure size. Exploitation requires attaching a malicious UAC3 device and triggering descriptor parsing; the bounded consequence is kernel-memory disclosure.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38249
Published
Jul 9, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-125, T1200
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 9, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.17
  2. Affected versionversion=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <0ee87c2814deb5e42921281116ac3abcb326880b
  3. Affected versionversion=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <11e740dc1a2c8590eb7074b5c4ab921bb6224c36
  4. Affected versionversion=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <24ff7d465c4284529bbfa207757bffb6f44b6403
  5. Affected versionversion=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <2dc1c3edf67abd30c757f8054a5da61927cdda21
  6. Affected versionversion=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <6eb211788e1370af52a245d4d7da35c374c7b401
  7. Affected versionversion=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <74fcb3852a2f579151ce80b9ed96cd916ba0d5d8
  8. Affected versionversion=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <c3fb926abe90d86f5e3055e0035f04d9892a118b
  9. Affected versionversion=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <fb4e2a6e8f28a3c0ad382e363aeb9cd822007b8a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.17; version=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <0ee87c2814deb5e42921281116ac3abcb326880b; version=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <11e740dc1a2c8590eb7074b5c4ab921bb6224c36; version=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <24ff7d465c4284529bbfa207757bffb6f44b6403; version=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <2dc1c3edf67abd30c757f8054a5da61927cdda21; version=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <6eb211788e1370af52a245d4d7da35c374c7b401; version=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <74fcb3852a2f579151ce80b9ed96cd916ba0d5d8; version=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <c3fb926abe90d86f5e3055e0035f04d9892a118b; version=9a2fe9b801f585baccf8352d82839dcd54b300cf <fb4e2a6e8f28a3c0ad382e363aeb9cd822007b8a

Published CVSS scores

4.6Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
7.1UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read
T1200Hardware Additions

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo