CVE-2023-52877·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usb: typec: tcpm: Fix NULL pointer dereference in tcpm_pd_svdm() It is possible that typec_register_partner() returns ERR_PTR on failure. When port->partner is an error, a NULL pointer dereference may occur as shown below. [91222.095236][ T319] typec port0: failed to register partner (-17) ... [91225.061491][ T319] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 000000000000039f [91225.274642][ T319] pc : tcpm_pd_data_request+0x310/0x13fc [91225.274646][ T319] lr : tcpm_pd_data_request+0x298/0x13fc [91225.308067][ T319] Call trace: [91225.308070][ T319] tcpm_pd_data_request+0x310/0x13fc [91225.308073][ T319] tcpm_pd_rx_handler+0x100/0x9e8 [91225.355900][ T319] kthread_worker_fn+0x178/0x58c [91225.355902][ T319] kthread+0x150/0x200 [91225.355905][ T319] ret_from_fork+0x10/0x30 Add a check for port->partner to avoid dereferencing a NULL pointer.
- Severity
- medium
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.6.1
- Published
- 2024-05-21
Affected versions
From: 6.6
Until: 6.6.1
Fixed in: 6.6.1
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.6.1 or later to patch a NULL pointer dereference in the USB Type-C Power Delivery state machine that can cause kernel crashes during partner device registration. Systems running kernel versions 6.6 through 6.6.0 should prioritize this update as it resolves stability issues in USB-C device negotiation.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check current kernel version: uname -r (must be 6.6.1 or later to be patched)
- Verify USB Type-C controller is present: lsusb | grep -i 'type.c\|typec' or cat /proc/modules | grep typec
- Search system logs for NULL pointer dereference related to tcpm: sudo grep -i 'tcpm_pd\|typec.*partner' /var/log/kern.log /var/log/syslog
- Confirm patch application by checking kernel configuration: cat /boot/config-$(uname -r) | grep -i usb_typec
FAQ
What is CVE-2023-52877?
This vulnerability is a NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel's USB Type-C Power Delivery (TCPM) module that occurs when a USB Type-C partner device fails to register properly, potentially causing kernel panics during device negotiation.
Is CVE-2023-52877 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and has no public exploit code available. Exploitation requires local access and malformed USB-C device behavior.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2023-52877?
Linux kernel versions 6.6 through 6.6.0 are vulnerable. Version 6.6.1 and later contain the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2023-52877?
Run 'uname -r' and verify the kernel version is 6.6.0 or earlier combined with 'grep typec /proc/modules' to confirm USB Type-C support is loaded. If both are true, your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2023-52877?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Linux kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2023-52877 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4987daf86c152ff882d51572d154ad12e4ff3a4b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9ee038590d808a95d16adf92818dcd4752273c08
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b37a168c0137156042a0ca9626651b5a789e822b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e5f53a68a596e04df3fde3099273435a30b6fdac
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e7a802447c491903aa7cb45967aa2a934a4e63fc
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