Linux Kernel up to 6.1.21/6.2.8 ucsi_acpi null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.21/6.2.8. Affected by this vulnerability is the function ucsi_acpi. The manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-53168. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.21/6.2.8. Affected is the function ucsi_acpi. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usb: ucsi_acpi: Increase the command completion timeout Commit 130a96d698d7 ("usb: typec: ucsi: acpi: Increase command completion timeout value") increased the timeout from 5 seconds to 60 seconds due to issues related to alternate mode discovery. After the alternate mode discovery switch to polled mode the timeout was reduced, but instead of being set back to 5 seconds it was reduced to 1 second. This is causing problems when using a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 yoga gen7 connected over Type-C to a LG 27UL850-W (charging DP over Type-C). When the monitor is already connected at boot the following error is logged: "PPM init failed (-110)", /sys/class/typec is empty and on unplugging the NULL pointer deref fixed earlier in this series happens. When the monitor is connected after boot the following error is logged instead: "GET_CONNECTOR_STATUS failed (-110)". Setting the timeout back to 5 seconds fixes both cases.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2023-53168 since 09/15/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.1.22 or 6.2.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 1e8525f37871741a52370627633962f8bdcab15a/8346d21d1d8a63f46f60e6899f4f80b1306acf32 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2053). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• SUSE openSUSE
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• F5 F5OS

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.0
• 6.1.1
• 6.1.2
• 6.1.3
• 6.1.4
• 6.1.5
• 6.1.6
• 6.1.7
• 6.1.8
• 6.1.9
• 6.1.10
• 6.1.11
• 6.1.12
• 6.1.13
• 6.1.14
• 6.1.15
• 6.1.16
• 6.1.17
• 6.1.18
• 6.1.19
• 6.1.20
• 6.1.21
• 6.2.0
• 6.2.1
• 6.2.2
• 6.2.3
• 6.2.4
• 6.2.5
• 6.2.6
• 6.2.7
• 6.2.8

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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