# CVE-2023-53166: linux: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:  power: supply: bq25890: Fix external_power_chang...

CVE-2023-53166 is fixed in linux on 1 platform, first by DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53166, released September 15, 2025. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-53166
- Priority: Routine
- CVSS: 4.7 (medium)
- EPSS: 0.0011
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Sep 15, 2025

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:  power: supply: bq25890: Fix external_power_changed race  bq25890_charger_external_power_changed() dereferences bq->charger, which gets sets in bq25890_power_supply_init() like this:    bq->charger = devm_power_supply_register(bq->dev, &bq->desc, &psy_cfg);  As soon as devm_power_supply_register() has called device_add() the external_power_changed callback can get called. So there is a window where bq25890_charger_external_power_changed() may get called while bq->charger has not been set yet leading to a NULL pointer dereference.  This race hits during boot sometimes on a Lenovo Yoga Book 1 yb1-x90f when the cht_wcove_pwrsrc (extcon) power_supply is done with detecting the connected charger-type which happens to exactly hit the small window:    BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000018   <snip>   RIP: 0010:__power_supply_is_supplied_by+0xb/0xb0   <snip>   Call Trace:    <TASK>    __power_supply_get_supplier_property+0x19/0x50    class_for_each_device+0xb1/0xe0    power_supply_get_property_from_supplier+0x2e/0x50    bq25890_charger_external_power_changed+0x38/0x1b0 [bq25890_charger]    __power_supply_changed_work+0x30/0x40    class_for_each_device+0xb1/0xe0    power_supply_changed_work+0x5f/0xe0   <snip>  Fixing this is easy. The external_power_changed callback gets passed the power_supply which will eventually get stored in bq->charger, so bq25890_charger_external_power_changed() can simply directly use the passed in psy argument which is always valid.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | linux Debian 12.15 (bookworm) | 6.1.37-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53166](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2023-53166.md) | Sep 15, 2025 |
| Linux | linux Debian 13.5 (trixie) | 6.3.7-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53166](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2023-53166.md) | Sep 15, 2025 |
| Linux | linux Debian 14 | 6.3.7-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53166](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2023-53166.md) | Sep 15, 2025 |

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Data as of 2026-11-08T00:53:09Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

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