CVE-2023-53366 is a medium-severity vulnerability found in the Linux kernel. This vulnerability allows improper handling of polled I/O operations, which could lead to a system crash under certain conditions. Specifically, the issue arises when the system fails to check for a NULL device block (bdev) while polling. This vulnerability was reported by Wei and is significant because it can compromise system stability.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.5, classified as medium severity. The attack vector is local, requiring low privileges and no user interaction. The potential impact includes a high availability impact, which means that affected systems may experience downtime or crashes.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to address this vulnerability, especially those running versions of the Linux kernel susceptible to this issue.
The vulnerability was published on September 17, 2025, and has since been modified. It is essential for security teams to monitor for updates and implement the necessary patches to ensure system integrity.
With the potential for exploitation, organizations must remain vigilant in applying security patches to the Linux kernel.
Vulnerability Details
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: block: be a bit more careful in checking for NULL bdev while polling. The vulnerability occurs due to bio->bi_bdev being NULL, which can happen if two tasks are performing polled I/O and one task completes I/O for another. This oversight necessitates careful checks to prevent system crashes.
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-476, indicating the improper assignment of a NULL pointer. The affected product is the Linux kernel, specifically versions starting from 5.15 and before 6.1.16, as well as those from 6.2 to 6.2.2.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2023-53366 is related to improper checks for NULL values within the bio structure during polled I/O operations. When a task completes I/O from another task sharing a poll queue, it can lead to a race condition, causing the system to attempt to access a NULL bdev. This results in a crash, impacting system availability.
The attack vector is local, requiring low privileges to trigger the vulnerability, and it does not necessitate any user interaction. The complexity of the attack is low, making it easier for an attacker with local access to exploit this vulnerability.
In terms of impact, the vulnerability has a high availability impact, which means it can lead to significant downtime. However, there is no confidentiality or integrity impact associated with this vulnerability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The risk to organizations includes potential system crashes, leading to downtime and loss of productivity. Given the widespread use of the Linux kernel, the blast radius of this vulnerability could affect numerous systems, particularly those that rely heavily on I/O operations.
Organizations must assess their deployment of the Linux kernel and determine if they are using affected versions. The urgency for patching is medium, and organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Affected versions include all versions of the Linux kernel prior to the patch, specifically those starting from 5.15 and before 6.1.16, as well as 6.2 to 6.2.2. Organizations should ensure they are running the latest version to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply the latest patches provided by the Linux kernel maintainers. Specific updates addressing CVE-2023-53366 can be found in the following references: penetration testing should also be considered to identify any additional vulnerabilities that may exist in the system.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual I/O operations or crashes. Behavioral anomalies during polled I/O processes can indicate an ongoing exploitation attempt.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2023-53366 indicates a pattern of vulnerabilities related to I/O operations in the Linux kernel. Security teams should learn from this incident and implement thorough testing and code review processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.
Additionally, the importance of maintaining up-to-date systems cannot be overstated. Organizations should establish a proactive approach to manage vulnerabilities effectively.
For further insights, organizations may refer to resources such as the comprehensive penetration testing methodology and the importance of a vulnerability management program to address security concerns.
By following these recommendations and leveraging available resources, organizations can better protect themselves against vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-53366.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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