CVE-2026-43436
USB-audio Driver NULL Dereference in Scarlett2 Mixer
Publication date: 2026-05-08
Last updated on: 2026-05-08
Assigner: kernel.org
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| linux | linux_kernel | * |
| linux | linux_kernel | to 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (inc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-UNKNOWN |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
The vulnerability is caused by a NULL dereference in the USB-audio driver when parsing malformed USB descriptors for Scarlett2 mixer interfaces.
To mitigate this vulnerability, ensure your Linux kernel is updated to a version where the ALSA usb-audio driver includes the fix that adds a sanity check for the number of endpoints (bNumEndpoints) and skips invalid interfaces.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
The provided information does not specify any impact of this vulnerability on compliance with common standards and regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA.
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's USB audio driver, specifically in the Scarlett2 mixer quirk. The issue occurs because the driver assumes that a USB interface has an endpoint without properly checking. If a malformed USB descriptor is passed, this assumption can lead to a NULL pointer dereference, causing a potential crash or instability.
The problem arises in the function scarlett2_find_fc_interface(), where the code does not verify the number of endpoints (bNumEndpoints) before accessing them. The fix involves adding a sanity check for bNumEndpoints and skipping any invalid interfaces to prevent the NULL dereference.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability can cause the Linux kernel's USB audio driver to dereference a NULL pointer when handling malformed USB descriptors. This may lead to system crashes, kernel panics, or instability when connecting or using affected USB audio devices, potentially disrupting normal system operation.