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CVE Record

CVE-2021-47268: usb: typec: tcpm: cancel vdm and state machine hrtimer when unregister tcpm port

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usb: typec: tcpm: cancel vdm and state machine hrtimer when unregister tcpm port A pending hrtimer may expire after the kthread_worker of tcpm port is destroyed, see below kernel dump when do module unload, fix it by cancel the 2 hrtimers. [ 111.517018] Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address ffff8000118cb880 [ 111.518786] blk_update_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 60061185 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x0 phys_seg 1 prio class 0 [ 111.526594] Mem abort info: [ 111.526597] ESR = 0x96000047 [ 111.526600] EC = 0x25: DABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits [ 111.526604] SET = 0, FnV = 0 [ 111.526607] EA = 0, S1PTW = 0 [ 111.526610] Data abort info: [ 111.526612] ISV = 0, ISS = 0x00000047 [ 111.526615] CM = 0, WnR = 1 [ 111.526619] swapper pgtable: 4k pages, 48-bit VAs, pgdp=0000000041d75000 [ 111.526623] [ffff8000118cb880] pgd=10000001bffff003, p4d=10000001bffff003, pud=10000001bfffe003, pmd=10000001bfffa003, pte=0000000000000000 [ 111.526642] Internal error: Oops: 96000047 [#1] PREEMPT SMP [ 111.526647] Modules linked in: dwc3_imx8mp dwc3 phy_fsl_imx8mq_usb [last unloaded: tcpci] [ 111.526663] CPU: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper/0 Not tainted 5.13.0-rc4-00927-gebbe9dbd802c-dirty #36 [ 111.526670] Hardware name: NXP i.MX8MPlus EVK board (DT) [ 111.526674] pstate: 800000c5 (Nzcv daIF -PAN -UAO -TCO BTYPE=--) [ 111.526681] pc : queued_spin_lock_slowpath+0x1a0/0x390 [ 111.526695] lr : _raw_spin_lock_irqsave+0x88/0xb4 [ 111.526703] sp : ffff800010003e20 [ 111.526706] x29: ffff800010003e20 x28: ffff00017f380180 [ 111.537156] buffer_io_error: 6 callbacks suppressed [ 111.537162] Buffer I/O error on dev sda1, logical block 60040704, async page read [ 111.539932] x27: ffff00017f3801c0 [ 111.539938] x26: ffff800010ba2490 x25: 0000000000000000 x24: 0000000000000001 [ 111.543025] blk_update_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 60061186 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x0 phys_seg 7 prio class 0 [ 111.548304] [ 111.548306] x23: 00000000000000c0 x22: ffff0000c2a9f184 x21: ffff00017f380180 [ 111.551374] Buffer I/O error on dev sda1, logical block 60040705, async page read [ 111.554499] [ 111.554503] x20: ffff0000c5f14210 x19: 00000000000000c0 x18: 0000000000000000 [ 111.557391] Buffer I/O error on dev sda1, logical block 60040706, async page read [ 111.561218] [ 111.561222] x17: 0000000000000000 x16: 0000000000000000 x15: 0000000000000000 [ 111.564205] Buffer I/O error on dev sda1, logical block 60040707, async page read [ 111.570887] x14: 00000000000000f5 x13: 0000000000000001 x12: 0000000000000040 [ 111.570902] x11: ffff0000c05ac6d8 [ 111.583420] Buffer I/O error on dev sda1, logical block 60040708, async page read [ 111.588978] x10: 0000000000000000 x9 : 0000000000040000 [ 111.588988] x8 : 0000000000000000 [ 111.597173] Buffer I/O error on dev sda1, logical block 60040709, async page read [ 111.605766] x7 : ffff00017f384880 x6 : ffff8000118cb880 [ 111.605777] x5 : ffff00017f384880 [ 111.611094] Buffer I/O error on dev sda1, logical block 60040710, async page read [ 111.617086] x4 : 0000000000000000 x3 : ffff0000c2a9f184 [ 111.617096] x2 : ffff8000118cb880 [ 111.622242] Buffer I/O error on dev sda1, logical block 60040711, async page read [ 111.626927] x1 : ffff8000118cb880 x0 : ffff00017f384888 [ 111.626938] Call trace: [ 111.626942] queued_spin_lock_slowpath+0x1a0/0x390 [ 111.795809] kthread_queue_work+0x30/0xc0 [ 111.799828] state_machine_timer_handler+0x20/0x30 [ 111.804624] __hrtimer_run_queues+0x140/0x1e0 [ 111.808990] hrtimer_interrupt+0xec/0x2c0 [ 111.813004] arch_timer_handler_phys+0x38/0x50 [ 111.817456] handle_percpu_devid_irq+0x88/0x150 [ 111.821991] __handle_domain_irq+0x80/0xe0 [ 111.826093] gic_handle_irq+0xc0/0x140 [ 111.829848] el1_irq+0xbc/0x154 [ 111.832991] arch_cpu_idle+0x1c/0x2c [ 111.836572] default_idle_call+0x24/0x6c [ 111.840497] do_idle+0x238/0x2ac [ 1 ---truncated---

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue can crash a system when the USB Type-C TCPM port is unregistered while pending high-resolution timers still fire. The public record describes a kernel oops during module unload, not remote compromise or data theft.

Executive priority

Treat this as a reliability and availability risk for affected Linux and embedded systems, not as confirmed active exploitation. Patch through normal kernel maintenance, accelerating only where USB-C module unloading or appliance uptime is operationally important.

Technical view

The TCPM driver failed to cancel VDM and state-machine hrtimers during port unregister. A timer could run after the port kthread_worker was destroyed, leading to invalid kernel memory access when queueing work.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using the USB Type-C Port Manager path, especially where related modules such as tcpci may be unloaded. The provided affected data names Linux 5.10, 5.10.44, 5.12.11, and 5.13, but version semantics are incomplete.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show active exploitation, KEV listing, public exploit activity, or a remote attack path. Evidence is a kernel crash observed during module unload on an NXP i.MX8MPlus EVK board.

Researcher notes

Key evidence is the upstream fix rationale and crash trace. The public bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, complete version range semantics, and exploitability detail. Do not infer broader kernel impact beyond TCPM unregister timer handling.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor or stable-kernel updates that include the referenced TCPM timer cancellation fixes.
  • Check distribution kernel advisories for backported fixes before relying on upstream version numbers.
  • Avoid unnecessary unloading of TCPM or TCPci-related modules on potentially affected production systems.
  • Prioritize embedded or appliance fleets that depend on USB Type-C controller support.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and USB Type-C TCPM/TCPci module usage across affected assets.
  • Confirm whether the referenced stable commits or equivalent vendor backports are present.
  • Review kernel logs for oops traces involving state_machine_timer_handler, kthread_queue_work, or tcpci unload.
  • Perform any unload or regression validation only in controlled non-production environments.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2021-47268 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
4Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux3ed8e1c2ac9914a2fcb08ec13476b85319536cea, 3ed8e1c2ac9914a2fcb08ec13476b85319536cea, 3ed8e1c2ac9914a2fcb08ec13476b85319536ceaunaffected
LinuxLinux5.10, 0, 5.10.44, 5.12.11, 5.13affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.