CVE-2026-80861: Linux kernel · usb: xhci: bail out of setup if the controller is inaccessible
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 5% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 4 Sep 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by 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
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix has been implemented in the Linux kernel to abort the xHCI controller setup early if the controller is inaccessible, preventing unaligned memory accesses. Users should update to a kernel version that includes this fix. Patch status is not explicitly stated in the provided data; therefore, check the vendor advisory or Linux kernel changelogs for the official fixed versions and apply updates accordingly.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's USB xHCI driver causes a kernel oops on ARM64 systems when the USB controller is inaccessible. The issue arises from an unaligned memory access during controller setup if the controller has failed or dropped off the bus. This leads to a fault instead of a graceful error handling, potentially causing system instability during USB device initialization.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-80861 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0b31744f70c5e06cce5fb660e02d057a3b9e0e37 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/78203d5b54a40f0e36196ebf31c9c7a380fc8811 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bf84c6b0264947794fa783c324a6d874ca6657d8 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-80861 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-80861 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/78203d5b54a40f0e36196ebf31c9c7a380fc8811 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/301f4a3303b21ea959a8294518ee883710498ac2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/70706dbcf122940f4e3595d7ba1445004cc00074 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c051f66b621695ad7c8438a9497d79e1f4f05edb (opens in a new tab)