CVE-2026-97541Public exploit

Kernel memory misuse via retained dynamic USB ID

Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel ath9k_htc USB driver allows attackers with sysfs write access to trigger kernel memory misuse. The driver retains a usb_device_id pointer after probe even though removal of a dynamic ID can free that object, then dereferences it during asynchronous firmware setup. Triggering requires privileged writes that add and remove a dynamic USB ID while probe runs; upstream has not published a demonstrated crash, privilege gain, or code-execution outcome.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 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.

Get started

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel ath9k_htc USB driver allows attackers with sysfs write access to trigger kernel memory misuse. The driver retains a usb_device_id pointer after probe even though removal of a dynamic ID can free that object, then dereferences it during asynchronous firmware setup. Triggering requires privileged writes that add and remove a dynamic USB ID while probe runs; upstream has not published a demonstrated crash, privilege gain, or code-execution outcome.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-97541
Published
Sep 25, 2026
Updated
Sep 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 25, 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=0 <6.12.111
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <6.18.53
  3. Affected versionversion=0 <7.2.7
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <14d2ac442d660e112efc0ce87ad10085013ed2b1
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8e70a6785bd02cf9ef7fd21ebccf46a8ba23014e
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9d5e396578097d02e859798207db41ed4b831f50
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c34aa59950597e3360e9cef9d08cdf4edb30ad4d

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0 <6.12.111; version=0 <6.18.53; version=0 <7.2.7; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <14d2ac442d660e112efc0ce87ad10085013ed2b1; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8e70a6785bd02cf9ef7fd21ebccf46a8ba23014e; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9d5e396578097d02e859798207db41ed4b831f50; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c34aa59950597e3360e9cef9d08cdf4edb30ad4d

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

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

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

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

No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

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

Get started to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Get started