CVE-2023-53206 hwmon: (pmbus_core) Fix NULL pointer dereference
A NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel's pmbus_core driver can cause a system crash, requiring a kernel patch.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2023-53206?
CVE-2023-53206 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 15 Sep 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
hwmon: (pmbus_core) Fix NULL pointer dereference
Pass i2c_client to _pmbus_is_enabled to drop the assumption that a regulator device is passed in.
This will fix the issue of a NULL pointer dereference when called from _pmbus_get_flags.
Weakness: CWE-476
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53206?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2023-53206?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2023-53206 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53206 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-53206, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53206, GHSA-px5w-pf7q-23jq, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53206.