CVE-2025-38153: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: usb: aqc111: fix error handling of usbnet read calls Syzkaller, courtesy of...

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: usb: aqc111: fix error handling of usbnet read calls Syzkaller, courtesy of syzbot, identified an error (see report [1]) in aqc111 driver, caused by incomplete sanitation of usb read calls' results. This problem is quite similar to the one fixed in commit 920a9fa27e78 ("net: asix: add proper error handling of usb read errors"). For instance, usbnet_read_cmd() may read fewer than 'size' bytes, even if the caller expected the full amount, and aqc111_read_cmd() will not check its result properly. As [1] shows, this may lead to MAC address in aqc111_bind() being only partly initialized, triggering KMSAN warnings. Fix the issue by verifying that the number of bytes read is as expected and not less. [1] Partial syzbot report: BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in is_valid_ether_addr include/linux/etherdevice.h:208 [inline] BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in usbnet_probe+0x2e57/0x4390 drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c:1830 is_valid_ether_addr include/linux/etherdevice.h:208 [inline] usbnet_probe+0x2e57/0x4390 drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c:1830 usb_probe_interface+0xd01/0x1310 drivers/usb/core/driver.c:396 call_driver_probe drivers/base/dd.c:-1 [inline] really_probe+0x4d1/0xd90 drivers/base/dd.c:658 __driver_probe_device+0x268/0x380 drivers/base/dd.c:800 ... Uninit was stored to memory at: dev_addr_mod+0xb0/0x550 net/core/dev_addr_lists.c:582 __dev_addr_set include/linux/netdevice.h:4874 [inline] eth_hw_addr_set include/linux/etherdevice.h:325 [inline] aqc111_bind+0x35f/0x1150 drivers/net/usb/aqc111.c:717 usbnet_probe+0xbe6/0x4390 drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c:1772 usb_probe_interface+0xd01/0x1310 drivers/usb/core/driver.c:396 ... Uninit was stored to memory at: ether_addr_copy include/linux/etherdevice.h:305 [inline] aqc111_read_perm_mac drivers/net/usb/aqc111.c:663 [inline] aqc111_bind+0x794/0x1150 drivers/net/usb/aqc111.c:713 usbnet_probe+0xbe6/0x4390 drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c:1772 usb_probe_interface+0xd01/0x1310 drivers/usb/core/driver.c:396 call_driver_probe drivers/base/dd.c:-1 [inline] ... Local variable buf.i created at: aqc111_read_perm_mac drivers/net/usb/aqc111.c:656 [inline] aqc111_bind+0x221/0x1150 drivers/net/usb/aqc111.c:713 usbnet_probe+0xbe6/0x4390 drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c:1772

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.1/10

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

EPSS Probability

0.16%

5.9th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-125

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.0, < 5.4.295
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.5, < 5.10.239
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.11, < 5.15.186
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.16, < 6.1.142
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.2, < 6.6.94
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.7, < 6.12.34
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.13, < 6.15.3
Debian	Debian Linux	11.0

References

Timeline

Published: Jul 3, 2025
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Analyzed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-38153?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: usb: aqc111: fix error handling of usbnet read calls Syzkaller, courtesy of syzbot, identified an error (see report [1]) in aqc111 driver, caused by incomplete sanitation of usb read calls' results. This problem is quite similar to the one fixed in commit 920a9fa27e78 ("net: asix: add proper error handling of usb read errors"). For instance, usbnet_read_cmd() may read fewer than 'size' bytes, even if the caller expected the full amount, and aqc111_read_cmd() will not check its result properly. As [1] shows, this may lead to MAC address in aqc111_bind() being only partly initialized, triggering KMSAN warnings. Fix the issue by verifying that the number of bytes read is as expected and not less. [1] Partial syzbot report: BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in is_valid_ether_addr include/linux/etherdevice.h:208 [inline] BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in usbnet_probe+0x2e57/0x4390 drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c:1830 is_valid_ether_addr include/linux/etherdevice.h:208 [inline] usbnet_probe+0x2e57/0x4390 drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c:1830 usb_probe_interface+0xd01/0x1310 drivers/usb/core/driver.c:396 call_driver_probe drivers/base/dd.c:-1 [inline] really_probe+0x4d1/0xd90 drivers/base/dd.c:658 __driver_probe_device+0x268/0x380 drivers/base/dd.c:800 ... Uninit was stored to memory at: dev_addr_mod+0xb0/0x550 net/core/dev_addr_lists.c:582 __dev_addr_set include/linux/netdevice.h:4874 [inline] eth_hw_addr_set include/linux/etherdevice.h:325 [inline] aqc111_bind+0x35f/0x1150 drivers/net/usb/aqc111.c:717 usbnet_probe+0xbe6/0x4390 drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c:1772 usb_probe_interface+0xd01/0x1310 drivers/usb/core/driver.c:396 ... Uninit was stored to memory at: ether_addr_copy include/linux/etherdevice.h:305 [inline] aqc111_read_perm_mac drivers/net/usb/aqc111.c:663 [inline] aqc111_bind+0x794/0x1150 drivers/net/usb/aqc111.c:713 usbnet_probe+0xbe6/0x4390 drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c:1772 usb_probe_interface+0xd01/0x1310 drivers/usb/core/driver.c:396 call_driver_probe drivers/base/dd.c:-1 [inline] ... Local variable buf.i created at: aqc111_read_perm_mac drivers/net/usb/aqc111.c:656 [inline] aqc111_bind+0x221/0x1150 drivers/net/usb/aqc111.c:713 usbnet_probe+0xbe6/0x4390 drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c:1772

How severe is CVE-2025-38153?

CVE-2025-38153 has a CVSS score of 7.1/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.16% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2025-38153?

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.