CVE-2025-21877: usbnet: gl620a: fix endpoint checking in genelink_bind()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
usbnet: gl620a: fix endpoint checking in genelink_bind()
Syzbot reports [1] a warning in usb_submit_urb() triggered by
inconsistencies between expected and actually present endpoints
in gl620a driver. Since genelink_bind() does not properly
verify whether specified eps are in fact provided by the device,
in this case, an artificially manufactured one, one may get a
mismatch.
Fix the issue by resorting to a usbnet utility function
usbnet_get_endpoints(), usually reserved for this very problem.
Check for endpoints and return early before proceeding further if
any are missing.
[1] Syzbot report:
usb 5-1: Manufacturer: syz
usb 5-1: SerialNumber: syz
usb 5-1: config 0 descriptor??
gl620a 5-1:0.23 usb0: register 'gl620a' at usb-dummy_hcd.0-1, ...
------------[ cut here ]------------
usb 5-1: BOGUS urb xfer, pipe 3 != type 1
WARNING: CPU: 2 PID: 1841 at drivers/usb/core/urb.c:503 usb_submit_urb+0xe4b/0x1730 drivers/usb/core/urb.c:503
Modules linked in:
CPU: 2 UID: 0 PID: 1841 Comm: kworker/2:2 Not tainted 6.12.0-syzkaller-07834-g06afb0f36106 #0
Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.16.3-debian-1.16.3-2~bpo12+1 04/01/2014
Workqueue: mld mld_ifc_work
RIP: 0010:usb_submit_urb+0xe4b/0x1730 drivers/usb/core/urb.c:503
...
Call Trace:
<TASK>
usbnet_start_xmit+0x6be/0x2780 drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c:1467
__netdev_start_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:5002 [inline]
netdev_start_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:5011 [inline]
xmit_one net/core/dev.c:3590 [inline]
dev_hard_start_xmit+0x9a/0x7b0 net/core/dev.c:3606
sch_direct_xmit+0x1ae/0xc30 net/sched/sch_generic.c:343
__dev_xmit_skb net/core/dev.c:3827 [inline]
__dev_queue_xmit+0x13d4/0x43e0 net/core/dev.c:4400
dev_queue_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:3168 [inline]
neigh_resolve_output net/core/neighbour.c:1514 [inline]
neigh_resolve_output+0x5bc/0x950 net/core/neighbour.c:1494
neigh_output include/net/neighbour.h:539 [inline]
ip6_finish_output2+0xb1b/0x2070 net/ipv6/ip6_output.c:141
__ip6_finish_output net/ipv6/ip6_output.c:215 [inline]
ip6_finish_output+0x3f9/0x1360 net/ipv6/ip6_output.c:226
NF_HOOK_COND include/linux/netfilter.h:303 [inline]
ip6_output+0x1f8/0x540 net/ipv6/ip6_output.c:247
dst_output include/net/dst.h:450 [inline]
NF_HOOK include/linux/netfilter.h:314 [inline]
NF_HOOK include/linux/netfilter.h:308 [inline]
mld_sendpack+0x9f0/0x11d0 net/ipv6/mcast.c:1819
mld_send_cr net/ipv6/mcast.c:2120 [inline]
mld_ifc_work+0x740/0xca0 net/ipv6/mcast.c:2651
process_one_work+0x9c5/0x1ba0 kernel/workqueue.c:3229
process_scheduled_works kernel/workqueue.c:3310 [inline]
worker_thread+0x6c8/0xf00 kernel/workqueue.c:3391
kthread+0x2c1/0x3a0 kernel/kthread.c:389
ret_from_fork+0x45/0x80 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:147
ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:244
</TASK>
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2025-21877 is a Linux kernel issue in the GL620A USB networking driver. A malformed or artificial USB device can present endpoint information that the driver did not validate correctly, triggering a kernel warning during USB network traffic handling. Public sources do not provide a CVSS score or confirmed business impact.
Executive priority
Treat as targeted kernel hygiene, not an emergency from current evidence. Prioritize updates on Linux endpoints, appliances, labs, and servers where untrusted USB devices can be attached or emulated.
Technical view
The flaw is in genelink_bind() in the usbnet gl620a driver. The driver failed to verify that expected USB endpoints were actually present before use. The kernel fix switches endpoint discovery to usbnet_get_endpoints() and exits early when endpoints are missing.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to Linux systems with the gl620a USB network driver path reachable, especially systems that accept untrusted or test-crafted USB devices. The source lists Linux kernel versions and commit ranges as affected but does not provide a complete distribution-by-distribution exposure matrix.
Exploitation context
The source describes a Syzbot-generated artificial USB device triggering a usb_submit_urb() warning. KEV is false, and the provided sources do not report active exploitation, public weaponization, privilege escalation, or remote exploitation.
Researcher notes
Evidence is strongest for malformed USB descriptor handling causing a kernel warning. The bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, exploitability analysis, and impact beyond the warning path. Avoid assuming memory corruption, code execution, or remote reachability without additional vendor evidence.
Mitigation direction
Update to a kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
Apply relevant distribution kernel updates, including Debian LTS advisories where applicable.
Restrict untrusted USB device attachment on sensitive Linux systems.
Check vendor kernel guidance for product-specific fixed versions.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux kernels and identify systems using or allowing the gl620a USB networking driver.
Compare running kernels against vendor advisories and referenced stable commits.
Review kernel logs for GL620A, usbnet, or usb_submit_urb warnings.
Confirm updated kernels include the endpoint validation fix in genelink_bind().
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Potential ATT&CK relevance
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
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CVE-2025-21877 mapping review
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0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
11Source links
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
Mar 27, 2025, 14:57 UTC (UTC+00:00)
CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.