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PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2026-90028 Linux CVE debrief

A Linux kernel vulnerability allows an unbalanced regulator disable warning when the hd3ss3220 driver attempts to drop a reference it never acquired. This issue arises because regulator_is_enabled() reports the aggregate regulator state, not whether this consumer holds an enable reference. Track successful enable and disable calls locally to prevent warnings.

Vendor
Linux
Product
Unknown
CVSS
Unknown
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-09-16
Original CVE updated
2026-10-19
Advisory published
2026-09-16
Advisory updated
2026-10-19

Who should care

Linux kernel maintainers, users, and administrators should be aware of this vulnerability and take necessary actions to fix the regulator state tracking issue. Affected operators and platforms should review and apply the provided patch to prevent potential warnings and ensure proper regulator state tracking. Vulnerability management and security teams should verify Linux kernel versions, check for any related updates or advisories, and apply patches to

Why it matters

This vulnerability requires a fix to prevent potential warnings and ensure proper regulator state tracking in the Linux kernel.

  • Defenders should verify Linux kernel versions and apply patches to prevent potential warnings and ensure proper regulator state tracking.
  • Linux kernel maintainers and users should review and apply the provided patch to fix the regulator state tracking issue.

Technical summary

The Linux kernel vulnerability CVE-2026-90028 is related to the hd3ss3220 driver and its handling of regulator state. The driver fails to track the VBUS enable state per consumer, leading to an unbalanced regulator disable warning. This issue arises because regulator_is_enabled() reports the aggregate regulator state, not whether this consumer holds an enable reference. To address this, the driver should track successful enable and disable calls locally to prevent warnings and ensure proper regulator state tracking in the Linux kernel.

Defensive priority

Medium priority for Linux kernel maintainers and users, as it requires a fix to prevent potential warnings and ensure proper regulator state tracking.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Review and apply the provided patch to the Linux kernel to fix the regulator state tracking issue.
  • Verify the Linux kernel version and check if it is affected by the vulnerability.
  • Monitor the Linux kernel for any related updates or advisories.
  • Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up.
  • Review compensating controls for exposed systems while remediation is scheduled and verified.
  • Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review.
  • Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented.

Evidence notes

The CVE record and source item provide details on the Linux kernel vulnerability, including a description of the issue and affected versions. To verify and address this vulnerability, defenders should review the Linux kernel versions, check for any related updates or advisories, and apply patches to prevent potential warnings and ensure proper regulator state tracking. The hd3ss3220 driver issue arises because regulator_is_enabled() reports the aggregate regulator state, not whether this consumer holds an enable reference. Successful

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2026-90028 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-90028

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2026-90028 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-90028

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

  • usb: typec: hd3ss3220: track VBUS enable state per consumer

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/main/cves/2026/90xxx/CVE-2026-90028.json

    cve_program_cvelist_v5

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/df7cd3908e07503fa7e9737dacf44208530e58d9

    Supplemental source

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c9a48db776d7184981630ecc01a3ad30a8f7dc24

    Supplemental source

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.