CVE-2023-53419

MEDIUM EPSS 4.1%
Published Sep 18, 20259mo ago · Modified Jun 17, 20261w ago
5.5 CVSS 3.1
Medium
Find Similar
Published Sep 18, 2025 9mo ago
Last Modified Jun 17, 2026 1w ago

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rcu: Protect rcu_print_task_exp_stall() ->exp_tasks access For kernels built with CONFIG_PREEMPT_RCU=y, the following scenario can result in a NULL-pointer dereference: CPU1 CPU2 rcu_preempt_deferred_qs_irqrestore rcu_print_task_exp_stall if (special.b.blocked) READ_ONCE(rnp->exp_tasks) != NULL raw_spin_lock_rcu_node np = rcu_next_node_entry(t, rnp) if (&t->rcu_node_entry == rnp->exp_tasks) WRITE_ONCE(rnp->exp_tasks, np) .... raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore_rcu_node raw_spin_lock_irqsave_rcu_node t = list_entry(rnp->exp_tasks->prev, struct task_struct, rcu_node_entry) (if rnp->exp_tasks is NULL, this will dereference a NULL pointer) The problem is that CPU2 accesses the rcu_node structure's->exp_tasks field without holding the rcu_node structure's ->lock and CPU2 did not observe CPU1's change to rcu_node structure's ->exp_tasks in time. Therefore, if CPU1 sets rcu_node structure's->exp_tasks pointer to NULL, then CPU2 might dereference that NULL pointer. This commit therefore holds the rcu_node structure's ->lock while accessing that structure's->exp_tasks field. [ paulmck: Apply Frederic Weisbecker feedback. ]

CVSS Details

Base Score
5.5
Exploitability
1.8
Impact
3.6
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Attack Vector Local
Attack Complexity Low
Privileges Required Low
User Interaction None
Scope Unchanged
Confidentiality None
Integrity None
Availability High

Threat Intelligence

EPSS Exploit Probability
4.1% percentile
Exploit & Patch Status
No Known Exploit
Patch Available

Weaknesses 1

CWE-476 NULL Pointer Dereference Memory Safety

Affected Products 4

VendorProductVersionRange
linuxlinux_kernel* <5.10.181
linuxlinux_kernel*≥5.11  –  <5.15.113
linuxlinux_kernel*≥5.16  –  <6.1.30
linuxlinux_kernel*≥6.2  –  <6.3.4

References 5

  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2bc0ae94ef1f9ed322d8ee439de3239ea3632ab2
    Patch
  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c1566bca3f8349f12b75d0a2d5e4a20ad6262ec
    Patch
  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7d21b8585894e6fff973f6ddae42f02b13f600f
    Patch
  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0a8c0e31a09ec1efd53079083e2a677956b4d91
    Patch
  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e30a55e98ae6c44253d8b129efefd5da5bc6e3bc
    Patch

Remediation

  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2bc0ae94ef1f9ed322d8ee439de3239ea3632ab2
    Patch
  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c1566bca3f8349f12b75d0a2d5e4a20ad6262ec
    Patch
  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7d21b8585894e6fff973f6ddae42f02b13f600f
    Patch
  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0a8c0e31a09ec1efd53079083e2a677956b4d91
    Patch
  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e30a55e98ae6c44253d8b129efefd5da5bc6e3bc
    Patch