Linux Kernel Vulnerability in USB Gadget Functionality

CVE-2025-40094

What is CVE-2025-40094?

A vulnerability exists in the USB gadget subsystem of the Linux kernel that can lead to a NULL pointer dereference. Specifically, after a connect/disconnect cycle, a stale request can remain in an unstable state. If a subsequent connection attempt fails, the error handling mechanism attempts to free this request but encounters a NULL pointer, resulting in a serious stability issue. The vulnerability has prompted a refactor of the bind path to utilize an automatic cleanup mechanism, __free(), to ensure proper handling and prevent potential crashes.

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