CVE-2023-54220: serial: 8250: Fix oops for port->pm on uart_change_pm()

Published Dec 30, 2025
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

serial: 8250: Fix oops for port->pm on uartchangepm()

Unloading a hardware specific 8250 driver can produce error "Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address" about ten seconds after unloading the driver. This happens on uarthangup() calling uartchangepm().

Turns out commit 04e82793f068 ("serial: 8250: Reinit port->pm on port specific driver unbind") was only a partial fix. If the hardware specific driver has initialized port->pm function, we need to clear port->pm too. Just reinitializing port->ops does not do this. Otherwise serial8250pm() will call port->pm() instead of serial8250dopm().

Affected Software

1 affected component
linux_kernel

Event History

Dec 30, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·12:11 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·12:11 PM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via NVD·01:16 PM
DescriptionSeverity
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2023-54220?

CVE-2023-54220 has been classified with a low severity rating.

2

What issue does CVE-2023-54220 address in the Linux kernel?

CVE-2023-54220 addresses an oops error related to port->pm when unloading a hardware specific 8250 driver.

3

How can I mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-54220?

The risks associated with CVE-2023-54220 can be mitigated by ensuring you update to the latest version of the Linux kernel with the relevant patches applied.

4

What platforms are affected by CVE-2023-54220?

CVE-2023-54220 affects the Linux kernel specifically when working with the 8250 serial driver.

5

Is there a workaround for CVE-2023-54220 until a fix is applied?

A temporary workaround for CVE-2023-54220 would be to avoid unloading the affected hardware specific 8250 driver.

Contact

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