[Bug?]: USB Passthrough Randomly Stops Working

[savemyram]

Version

7.2.16

Host OS Type

Windows

Host OS name + version

Windows 11 Build 26200

Host Architecture

x86

Guest OS Type

Linux

Guest Architecture

x86

Guest OS name + version

Kali Linux 2026.2

Component

USB and Serial Ports

What happened?

Using Panda PAU0F WiFi adapter in monitor mode randomly stops working until VirtualBox is completely closed and the Intel(R) USB 3.10 eXtensible Host Controller is restarted using a program like USB Tree or Windows is fully restarted. When the problem occurs and the VM is still running, device manager no longer shows the VirtualBox USB driver and some other device shows up with a descriptor failed error. Also all power save functionality and check boxes for USB devices are disabled. Currently using VirtualBox 7.0.12 to see if the problem also happens in an older release. Based on short testing, this problem does not seem to occur on this version on a Windows 7 workstation.

How can we reproduce this?

Use a WiFi adapter with USB passthrough while running Kali Linux, then wait for the blinking green and red activity dot in status bar to stop blinking.

Did you upload all of your necessary log files, screenshots, etc.?

• Yes, I've uploaded all pertinent files to this issue.

[savemyram]

I just wanted to update that so far this problem has not yet occurred while using 7.0.12 for over 36 hours so far. Going to keep it going to see if it eventually fails again, but as of right now it looks like it's a problem in at least 7.2.16.

[savemyram]

Eventually failed again using 7.0.12 as well, but this time the activity dot on the USB status bar icon was stuck on green. Same resolution as the previously posted makes it work again temporarily. Simply closing out of the VM, unplugging the dongle, starting the VM again shows device enumeration failed.