CVE-2026-80774 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
HID: asus: fix missing hid_is_usb() check
to_usb_interface() can only be used on a hid_device whose parent is really USB; uhid can create devices that identify as being on BUS_USB, but don't actually have a USB parent. Fix the use of to_usb_interface() without a hid_is_usb() check.
I have verified that it is currently possible to trigger a kernel splat due to this bug in an ASAN build, and that this commit fixes the issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2026
The Linux kernel's Human Interface Device subsystem contains a logic flaw within the ASUS-specific driver code that leads to improper pointer casting operations when handling device interfaces. The core of the vulnerability lies in the misuse of the to_usb_interface macro without first verifying the actual bus type of the underlying hid_device structure. In standard operation, this macro is designed to cast a generic HID device pointer into a specific USB interface structure, assuming that the parent transport layer is indeed Universal Serial Bus. However, the kernel allows for virtualized or emulated devices through the uhid subsystem, which can register as BUS_USB without possessing an actual physical USB parent device. This discrepancy creates a scenario where the driver attempts to interpret memory structures associated with non-USB entities using assumptions valid only for real USB hardware.
This architectural mismatch results in undefined behavior when the kernel dereferences pointers that do not correspond to valid USB interface objects. Specifically, accessing members of the usb_interface structure on an object that lacks this layout leads to out-of-bounds reads or writes depending on how the memory is laid out and accessed. Security researchers have confirmed through AddressSanitizer builds that triggering this code path causes kernel splats, which are critical error messages indicating severe internal inconsistencies such as use-after-free conditions, invalid pointer dereferences, or stack corruption. These symptoms indicate a potential for arbitrary code execution if an attacker can control the data structures involved in the interaction with the affected driver module.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-416, Use After Free, and CWE-787, Out-of-bounds Write, as it involves accessing memory based on incorrect assumptions about object types and lifecycles. In terms of attack vectors, this falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically within the context of local privilege escalation via kernel exploitation. An attacker with local access could potentially exploit this flaw to escalate privileges by corrupting kernel memory structures, thereby gaining control over system execution flow or bypassing security boundaries enforced at the operating system level.
The operational impact extends beyond immediate stability issues such as kernel panics and system crashes. The presence of such a vulnerability in core input handling drivers increases the attack surface for local privilege escalation attacks on Linux-based systems that utilize ASUS hardware or emulate HID devices via uhid. System administrators must ensure that their kernels are updated to include patches addressing this specific logic error, particularly those released after the identification of the missing hid_is_usb check. Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying vendor-provided kernel updates and ensuring strict adherence to input device validation practices within custom driver development to prevent similar type-confusion errors in other subsystems.