CVE-2025-40275

Host crash via unchecked USB interface descriptor

Published Dec 6, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel ALSA USB audio from 4.18 allows physically proximate attackers to crash the host with a crafted USB device. In snd_usb_mixer_controls_badd(), usb_ifnum_to_if() can return NULL for a missing UAC3 interface descriptor, but the result is dereferenced without a NULL check. Exploitation requires physical attachment of a crafted UAC3 USB audio device and affects availability, with no reported data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel ALSA USB audio from 4.18 allows physically proximate attackers to crash the host with a crafted USB device. In snd_usb_mixer_controls_badd(), usb_ifnum_to_if() can return NULL for a missing UAC3 interface descriptor, but the result is dereferenced without a NULL check. Exploitation requires physical attachment of a crafted UAC3 USB audio device and affects availability, with no reported data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-40275
Published
Dec 6, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 6, 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

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <23aea9c74aeea2625aaf4fbcc6beb9d09e30f9e4
  2. Affected versionversion=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <2762d3ea9c929ca4094541ca517c317ffa94625b
  3. Affected versionversion=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <57f607c112966c21240c424b33e2cb71e121dcf0
  4. Affected versionversion=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <632108ec072ad64c8c83db6e16a7efee29ebfb74
  5. Affected versionversion=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <85568535893600024d7d8794f4f8b6428b521e0c
  6. Affected versionversion=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <9f282104627be5fbded3102ff9004f753c55a063
  7. Affected versionversion=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <c5c08965ab96b16361e69a1e2a0e89dbcb99b5a6
  8. Affected versionversion=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <cbdbfc756f2990942138ed0138da9303b4dbf9ff
  9. Affected versionversion=4.18

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <23aea9c74aeea2625aaf4fbcc6beb9d09e30f9e4; version=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <2762d3ea9c929ca4094541ca517c317ffa94625b; version=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <57f607c112966c21240c424b33e2cb71e121dcf0; version=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <632108ec072ad64c8c83db6e16a7efee29ebfb74; version=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <85568535893600024d7d8794f4f8b6428b521e0c; version=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <9f282104627be5fbded3102ff9004f753c55a063; version=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <c5c08965ab96b16361e69a1e2a0e89dbcb99b5a6; version=17156f23e93c0f59e06dd2aaffd06221341caaee <cbdbfc756f2990942138ed0138da9303b4dbf9ff; version=4.18

Published CVSS scores

4.3Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.0Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.

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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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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

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Your stack

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