CVE-2023-53168
📋 TL;DR
A race condition vulnerability in the Linux kernel's USB Type-C UCSI ACPI driver where an insufficient command completion timeout (1 second instead of 5 seconds) causes system errors when certain USB-C monitors are connected. This affects Linux systems using affected kernel versions with USB-C hardware, particularly Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen7 laptops connected to LG 27UL850-W monitors.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel
📦 What is this software?
Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
System crash or kernel panic due to NULL pointer dereference when disconnecting USB-C devices, potentially causing data loss or system instability.
Likely Case
USB-C functionality failures including charging, display output, and peripheral connectivity errors, with system logs showing 'PPM init failed (-110)' or 'GET_CONNECTOR_STATUS failed (-110)' messages.
If Mitigated
Minor connectivity issues resolved by reconnecting devices or rebooting, with no persistent system compromise.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires physical access to connect specific USB-C hardware. More of a reliability issue than security vulnerability, though NULL pointer dereference could be leveraged.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel patches in stable trees (commits: 02d210f434249a7edbc160969b75df030dc6934d, 1e8525f37871741a52370627633962f8bdcab15a, 8346d21d1d8a63f46f60e6899f4f80b1306acf32)
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8346d21d1d8a63f46f60e6899f4f80b1306acf32
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from distribution repositories. 2. For custom kernels, apply relevant stable kernel patches. 3. No reboot required for kernel module reload, but recommended for stability.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Avoid affected hardware combinations
allDo not connect LG 27UL850-W monitors to Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen7 laptops via USB-C until patched
Use alternative connection methods
allConnect monitors via HDMI or DisplayPort instead of USB-C for display functionality
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Avoid connecting/disconnecting USB-C devices while system is in use
- Monitor system logs for UCSI/ACPI errors and restart system if errors occur
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel logs for 'PPM init failed (-110)' or 'GET_CONNECTOR_STATUS failed (-110)' messages when connecting USB-C devicesCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Connect affected USB-C hardware and verify no timeout errors appear in dmesg or system logs📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- 'PPM init failed (-110)'
- 'GET_CONNECTOR_STATUS failed (-110)'
- UCSI/ACPI timeout errors in kernel logs
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("PPM init failed" OR "GET_CONNECTOR_STATUS failed")