CVE-2026-43488
MediumCVSS 5.5Exploitation Probability (EPSS)
Low risk2th percentile - higher than 2% of all known CVEs
Summary
In the Linux kernel's USB xHCI driver, a vulnerability causes an interrupt storm after a Host Controller Error (HCE) during UAS Storage device plug/unplug on Android devices, leading to severe system faults. The fix adds xhci_halt() in the interrupt handler to stop the controller and break the storm.
Risk Assessment
The interrupt storm can cause complete system hang or severe performance degradation, preventing normal device operation.
Recommendation
Apply the Linux kernel patch that adds xhci_halt() in the xhci_irq() function for STS_HCE errors. After applying the patch, a full reset and re-initialization of the xHC controller is required to restore normal operation.
Original NVD description (English source)
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usb: xhci: Prevent interrupt storm on host controller error (HCE) The xHCI controller reports a Host Controller Error (HCE) in UAS Storage Device plug/unplug scenarios on Android devices. HCE is checked in xhci_irq() function and causes an interrupt storm (since the interrupt isn’t cleared), leading to severe system-level faults. When the xHC controller reports HCE in the interrupt handler, the driver only logs a warning and assumes xHC activity will stop as stated in xHCI specification. An interrupt storm does however continue on some hosts even after HCE, and only ceases after manually disabling xHC interrupt and stopping the controller by calling xhci_halt(). Add xhci_halt() to xhci_irq() function where STS_HCE status is checked, mirroring the existing error handling pattern used for STS_FATAL errors. This only fixes the interrupt storm. Proper HCE recovery requires resetting and re-initializing the xHC.