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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2025-40120: Linux kernel · net: usb: asix: hold PM usage ref to avoid PM/MDIO + RTNL deadlock

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

0

Not known to be exploited · fixed in 5.15.0-1100.107~20.04.2 : update Linux kernel when convenient.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC

Severity
Medium

Rated by Threat Radar · No CVSS score from NVD or the CNA

EPSS
0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 12% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch
Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1100.107~20.04.2, 5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1100.109~20.04.1 +67

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 12 Nov 2025

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq Mirage: no evidence on record.

    No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.

What to do

Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.17.0-14.14?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-14.14
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-14.14
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1007.7?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-1007.7
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-1007.7
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-1008.8
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-1008.8
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-1003.3 – 6.17.0-1017.17
10 affected builds		Fixed in–
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@6.17.0-1007.7?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-1007.7
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-1007.7
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle@6.17.0-1007.7?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-1007.7
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-1007.7

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: usb: asix: hold PM usage ref to avoid PM/MDIO + RTNL deadlock Prevent USB runtime PM (autosuspend) for AX88772* in bind. usbnet enables runtime PM (autosuspend) by default, so disabling it via the usb_driver flag is ineffective. On AX88772B, autosuspend shows no measurable power saving with current driver (no link partner, admin up/down). The ~0.453 W -> ~0.248 W drop on v6.1 comes from phylib powering the PHY off on admin-down, not from USB autosuspend. The real hazard is that with runtime PM enabled, ndo_open() (under RTNL) may synchronously trigger autoresume (usb_autopm_get_interface()) into asix_resume() while the USB PM lock is held. Resume paths then invoke phylink/phylib and MDIO, which also expect RTNL, leading to possible deadlocks or PM lock vs MDIO wake issues. To avoid this, keep the device runtime-PM active by taking a usage reference in ax88772_bind() and dropping it in unbind(). A non-zero PM usage count blocks runtime suspend regardless of userspace policy (.../power/control - pm_runtime_allow/forbid), making this approach robust against sysfs overrides. Holding a runtime-PM usage ref does not affect system-wide suspend; system sleep/resume callbacks continue to run as before.

References

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