CVE-2026-43488: usb: xhci: Prevent interrupt storm on host controller error (HCE)

Published May 13, 2026
·
Updated

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 xhciirq() 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 xhcihalt().

Add xhcihalt() to xhciirq() function where STSHCE status is checked, mirroring the existing error handling pattern used for STSFATAL errors.

This only fixes the interrupt storm. Proper HCE recovery requires resetting and re-initializing the xHC.

Affected Software

157 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel
Linux Linux kernel>=6.2<6.6.130
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.12.78
Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.18.19
Linux Linux kernel>=6.19<6.19.9
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc1
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc2
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc3
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-oem*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8<6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1
6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8<6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1
6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8<6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1
6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8<6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1
6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1
6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8<6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1
6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1
6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8<6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1
6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8<6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1
6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8<6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3
6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3
ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8<6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2
6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2
ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-136.136
6.8.0-136.136
ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1061.64
6.8.0-1061.64
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1063.71
6.8.0-1063.71
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<6.8.0-1062.69
6.8.0-1062.69
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1064.72
6.8.0-1064.72
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1059.67
6.8.0-1059.67
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1046.50
6.8.0-1046.50
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1061.62
6.8.0-1061.62
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-136.136.2
6.8.0-136.136.2
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1059.62
6.8.0-1059.62
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency<6.8.0-1059.62.1
6.8.0-1059.62.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<6.8.0-1030.31
6.8.0-1030.31
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1058.61
6.8.0-1058.61
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-raspi<6.8.0-1061.65
6.8.0-1061.65
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-vmware<6.8.0-1008.8
6.8.0-1008.8
ubuntu/linux-xilinx<6.8.0-1033.34
6.8.0-1033.34
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1028.33
6.8.0-1028.33
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime<6.8.0-2050.52
6.8.0-2050.52
ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1056.57
6.8.1-1056.57
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1061.64+fips1
6.8.0-1061.64+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1063.71+fips2
6.8.0-1063.71+fips2
ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-136.136+fips2
6.8.0-136.136+fips2
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1064.72+fips1
6.8.0-1064.72+fips1
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136
  13. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.64
  14. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.69
  16. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72
  17. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.67
  18. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.50
  19. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.62
  20. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136.2
  21. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62
  22. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62.1
  23. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1030.31
  24. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61
  25. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.65
  26. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-vmware to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1008.8
  27. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1033.34
  28. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1028.33
  29. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-2050.52
  30. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.1-1056.57
  31. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.64+fips1
  32. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71+fips2
  33. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136+fips2
  34. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72+fips1
  35. Configuration

    When STS_HCE is detected in xhci_irq(), disable the xHC interrupt and call xhci_halt() to stop the controller and prevent the interrupt storm.

    Linux kernel xHCI driver STS_HCE handling in xhci_irq() = disable xHC interrupts and call xhci_halt()
  36. Operational

    Reset and re-initialize the xHC after a Host Controller Error (HCE) for proper recovery.

Event History

May 13, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:08 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:08 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·04:16 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-43488?

The severity of CVE-2026-43488 is classified as moderate due to its potential to cause system instability.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-43488?

To fix CVE-2026-43488, update your Linux kernel to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched.

3

Which systems are affected by CVE-2026-43488?

CVE-2026-43488 affects Linux systems that use the xHCI USB controller.

4

What is the impact of CVE-2026-43488 on performance?

CVE-2026-43488 can lead to an interrupt storm that may degrade system performance during USB device plug/unplug operations.

5

Is there a workaround for CVE-2026-43488?

Currently, the best workaround for CVE-2026-43488 is to apply the recommended kernel updates that resolve the issue.

Company

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