CVE-2026-89891Public exploit

Kernel crash via dangling em28xx device-list entry

Published Sep 16, 2026 · Updated Sep 16, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux em28xx USB media driver allows physically proximate attackers to crash the kernel using crafted USB descriptors. On disconnect, em28xx_close_extension() unlinks only the primary device before kref_put() frees dev_next, leaving dev_next->devlist in em28xx_devlist. A dual-transport-stream device must enter the audio-only probe path and then be disconnected; a later em28xx probe detects list corruption and triggers a kernel BUG.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probabilityUnavailable
No score available in this record
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux em28xx USB media driver allows physically proximate attackers to crash the kernel using crafted USB descriptors. On disconnect, em28xx_close_extension() unlinks only the primary device before kref_put() frees dev_next, leaving dev_next->devlist in em28xx_devlist. A dual-transport-stream device must enter the audio-only probe path and then be disconnected; a later em28xx probe detects list corruption and triggers a kernel BUG.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-89891
Published
Sep 16, 2026
Updated
Sep 16, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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=4.17
  2. Affected versionversion=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <0782807552b6aff41b4656c6c9076a3231d3e79d
  3. Affected versionversion=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <16cb1ee17e093175b4d9ae33202f68e5b108cca2
  4. Affected versionversion=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <1ed575b1991f68569eb589b7747d3bc26aa6a8a2
  5. Affected versionversion=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <20aacd87550be297dc39a3f9532dcfff91586510
  6. Affected versionversion=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <20c2c65f3d9f7c278dc9750531d3201ac8bf78b7
  7. Affected versionversion=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <826915b6b65e2d3251e7248ea54289a22d748c84
  8. Affected versionversion=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <da4b07da6281e39ce4c01e1227e036f3bf600e14
  9. Affected versionversion=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <f61720346fdcc1a2deec59a2f6cbb0cc20d1dc18

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.17; version=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <0782807552b6aff41b4656c6c9076a3231d3e79d; version=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <16cb1ee17e093175b4d9ae33202f68e5b108cca2; version=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <1ed575b1991f68569eb589b7747d3bc26aa6a8a2; version=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <20aacd87550be297dc39a3f9532dcfff91586510; version=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <20c2c65f3d9f7c278dc9750531d3201ac8bf78b7; version=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <826915b6b65e2d3251e7248ea54289a22d748c84; version=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <da4b07da6281e39ce4c01e1227e036f3bf600e14; version=f410b4093fdd4d8f4644d3d486afe3040eceef7b <f61720346fdcc1a2deec59a2f6cbb0cc20d1dc18

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

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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