medium CVSS 5.5

CVE-2023-52853·Kernel vulnerability

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: hid: cp2112: Fix duplicate workqueue initialization Previously the cp2112 driver called INIT_DELAYED_WORK within cp2112_gpio_irq_startup, resulting in duplicate initilizations of the workqueue on subsequent IRQ startups following an initial request. This resulted in a warning in set_work_data in workqueue.c, as well as a rare NULL dereference within process_one_work in workqueue.c. Initialize the workqueue within _probe instead.

Severity
medium
Software
Kernel
Fixed in
6.6.2
Published
2024-05-21

Affected versions

From: 6.6

Until: 6.6.2

Fixed in: 6.6.2

How to fix this CVE

Update your Linux kernel to version 6.6.2 or later to resolve a workqueue initialization defect in the cp2112 HID driver. This vulnerability can cause kernel warnings and rare NULL pointer dereferences when GPIO IRQ operations are triggered multiple times. Apply the kernel update through your distribution's package manager and reboot your system to activate the patched kernel.

sudo dnf update kernel && sudo reboot

Defensia detects this vulnerability

How to check if you are affected

  1. Check current kernel version: uname -r (should be 6.6.2 or later if patched)
  2. Verify cp2112 driver is loaded: lsmod | grep cp2112 (if output exists, the vulnerable component is present)
  3. Search kernel logs for workqueue warnings: sudo dmesg | grep -i 'workqueue\|set_work_data' or journalctl -u kernel | grep -i workqueue
  4. Confirm patch application by checking kernel build date: uname -v and cross-reference with official kernel release notes for version 6.6.2+

FAQ

What is CVE-2023-52853?

This vulnerability is a logic error in the Linux kernel's cp2112 HID driver where a workqueue is repeatedly initialized on each GPIO IRQ startup, causing kernel warnings and potential NULL pointer crashes. The fix relocates workqueue initialization to the driver probe function to occur only once.

Is CVE-2023-52853 being actively exploited?

No, CVE-2023-52853 is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and has no public exploits available. Exploitation requires local access and specific GPIO IRQ configuration.

What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2023-52853?

Linux kernel versions 6.6.0 through 6.6.2 are affected. The vulnerability was introduced in kernel 6.6 and patched in 6.6.3.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2023-52853?

Run uname -r to check your kernel version. If output shows 6.6.0, 6.6.1, or 6.6.2, your system is vulnerable. Additionally, confirm cp2112 driver presence with: lsmod | grep cp2112

Does Defensia detect CVE-2023-52853?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed kernel versions against the NVD database. If your kernel falls within the affected range (6.6.0–6.6.2), CVE-2023-52853 will appear in your dashboard with automated remediation steps.

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References

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