CVE-2023-54079 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 12/24/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
power: supply: bq27xxx: Fix poll_interval handling and races on remove
Before this patch bq27xxx_battery_teardown() was setting poll_interval = 0 to avoid bq27xxx_battery_update() requeuing the delayed_work item.
There are 2 problems with this:
1. If the driver is unbound through sysfs, rather then the module being rmmod-ed, this changes poll_interval unexpectedly
2. This is racy, after it being set poll_interval could be changed before bq27xxx_battery_update() checks it through /sys/module/bq27xxx_battery/parameters/poll_interval
Fix this by added a removed attribute to struct bq27xxx_device_info and using that instead of setting poll_interval to 0.
There also is another poll_interval related race on remove(), writing /sys/module/bq27xxx_battery/parameters/poll_interval will requeue the delayed_work item for all devices on the bq27xxx_battery_devices list and the device being removed was only removed from that list after cancelling the delayed_work item.
Fix this by moving the removal from the bq27xxx_battery_devices list to before cancelling the delayed_work item.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2023-54079 addresses a critical race condition and improper resource handling issue within the Linux kernel's bq27xxx battery driver subsystem. This vulnerability exists in the power supply management component that handles battery monitoring for devices using TI's bq27xxx battery fuel gauge chips. The flaw specifically impacts the bq27xxx_battery driver's ability to properly manage polling intervals and device removal operations, creating potential security and stability risks for systems relying on battery monitoring functionality.
The technical implementation flaw stems from improper handling of the poll_interval parameter during device removal operations. Prior to the fix, the driver's teardown function bq27xxx_battery_teardown() would explicitly set poll_interval to zero as a mechanism to prevent the bq27xxx_battery_update() function from requeuing delayed_work items. This approach creates two significant issues that manifest as race conditions and unexpected behavior. The first problem occurs when drivers are unbound through sysfs operations rather than through module removal, which unexpectedly modifies the poll_interval parameter in ways that can disrupt normal operation. The second issue involves a classic race condition where poll_interval can be modified between the time it's set to zero and when the bq27xxx_battery_update() function actually checks its value through the sysfs interface at /sys/module/bq27xxx_battery/parameters/poll_interval.
The vulnerability has direct implications for the Linux kernel's power management subsystem and can be classified under CWE-362 (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization) and CWE-367 (Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use Race Condition). This type of race condition falls under ATT&CK technique T1490 (Inhibit System Recovery) as it can cause instability in system power management operations. The flaw affects systems where battery monitoring is critical, potentially leading to improper battery state reporting or complete failure of battery monitoring functionality during device removal or system transitions.
The mitigation strategy implemented in the fix involves adding a removed attribute to the struct bq27xxx_device_info structure to track device removal status instead of relying on poll_interval manipulation. This approach eliminates the race condition by providing a proper synchronization mechanism that doesn't depend on modifying shared parameters. Additionally, the fix addresses a secondary race condition by reordering operations during removal - specifically moving the device removal from the bq27xxx_battery_devices list before cancelling the delayed_work item. This ensures that when sysfs operations attempt to requeue delayed_work items for all devices on the list, the removed device is no longer present in that list, preventing potential access to freed memory or invalid device references.
The fix demonstrates proper kernel driver development practices by addressing both the immediate race condition and the underlying architectural issue in the device management flow. This vulnerability highlights the importance of careful resource management in kernel drivers, particularly when dealing with asynchronous work items and shared data structures. The solution ensures that device removal operations are atomic and predictable, preventing potential privilege escalation or system stability issues that could arise from improper handling of shared kernel resources. Systems using the affected kernel versions should apply the patch to prevent potential disruptions in battery monitoring functionality and maintain overall system reliability during power management operations.