CVE-2025-38249 ALSA: usb-audio: Fix out-of-bounds read in snd_usb_get_audioformat_uac3()
A malicious USB audio device can trigger an out-of-bounds read in the Linux kernel, potentially causing a crash or leaking memory.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-38249?
CVE-2025-38249 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 9 Jul 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ALSA: usb-audio: Fix out-of-bounds read in snd_usb_get_audioformat_uac3()
In snd_usb_get_audioformat_uac3(), the length value returned from snd_usb_ctl_msg() is used directly for memory allocation without validation. This length is controlled by the USB device.
The allocated buffer is cast to a uac3_cluster_header_descriptor and its fields are accessed without verifying that the buffer is large enough. If the device returns a smaller than expected length, this leads to an out-of-bounds read.
Add a length check to ensure the buffer is large enough for uac3_cluster_header_descriptor.
Weakness: CWE-125
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-38249?
It affects 2 products.
Products include Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-38249?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2025-38249 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38249 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux
Sources
Also known as AZL-64859, AZL-72787, BELL-CVE-2025-38249, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38249, GHSA-mccw-9f8h-p8w7, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2025-38249 and 4 more.