CVE-2023-53478

MEDIUM EPSS 1.0%
Published Oct 1, 20259mo ago · Modified Jun 17, 20262w ago
4.7 CVSS 3.1
Medium
Find Similar
Published Oct 1, 2025 9mo ago
Last Modified Jun 17, 2026 2w ago

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing/synthetic: Fix races on freeing last_cmd Currently, the "last_cmd" variable can be accessed by multiple processes asynchronously when multiple users manipulate synthetic_events node at the same time, it could lead to use-after-free or double-free. This patch add "lastcmd_mutex" to prevent "last_cmd" from being accessed asynchronously. ================================================================ It's easy to reproduce in the KASAN environment by running the two scripts below in different shells. script 1: while : do echo -n -e '\x88' > /sys/kernel/tracing/synthetic_events done script 2: while : do echo -n -e '\xb0' > /sys/kernel/tracing/synthetic_events done ================================================================ double-free scenario: process A process B ------------------- --------------- 1.kstrdup last_cmd 2.free last_cmd 3.free last_cmd(double-free) ================================================================ use-after-free scenario: process A process B ------------------- --------------- 1.kstrdup last_cmd 2.free last_cmd 3.tracing_log_err(use-after-free) ================================================================ Appendix 1. KASAN report double-free: BUG: KASAN: double-free in kfree+0xdc/0x1d4 Free of addr ***** by task sh/4879 Call trace: ... kfree+0xdc/0x1d4 create_or_delete_synth_event+0x60/0x1e8 trace_parse_run_command+0x2bc/0x4b8 synth_events_write+0x20/0x30 vfs_write+0x200/0x830 ... Allocated by task 4879: ... kstrdup+0x5c/0x98 create_or_delete_synth_event+0x6c/0x1e8 trace_parse_run_command+0x2bc/0x4b8 synth_events_write+0x20/0x30 vfs_write+0x200/0x830 ... Freed by task 5464: ... kfree+0xdc/0x1d4 create_or_delete_synth_event+0x60/0x1e8 trace_parse_run_command+0x2bc/0x4b8 synth_events_write+0x20/0x30 vfs_write+0x200/0x830 ... ================================================================ Appendix 2. KASAN report use-after-free: BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in strlen+0x5c/0x7c Read of size 1 at addr ***** by task sh/5483 sh: CPU: 7 PID: 5483 Comm: sh ... __asan_report_load1_noabort+0x34/0x44 strlen+0x5c/0x7c tracing_log_err+0x60/0x444 create_or_delete_synth_event+0xc4/0x204 trace_parse_run_command+0x2bc/0x4b8 synth_events_write+0x20/0x30 vfs_write+0x200/0x830 ... Allocated by task 5483: ... kstrdup+0x5c/0x98 create_or_delete_synth_event+0x80/0x204 trace_parse_run_command+0x2bc/0x4b8 synth_events_write+0x20/0x30 vfs_write+0x200/0x830 ... Freed by task 5480: ... kfree+0xdc/0x1d4 create_or_delete_synth_event+0x74/0x204 trace_parse_run_command+0x2bc/0x4b8 synth_events_write+0x20/0x30 vfs_write+0x200/0x830 ...

CVSS Details

Base Score
4.7
Exploitability
1.0
Impact
3.6
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Attack Vector Local
Attack Complexity High
Privileges Required Low
User Interaction None
Scope Unchanged
Confidentiality None
Integrity None
Availability High

Threat Intelligence

EPSS Exploit Probability
1.0% percentile
Exploit & Patch Status
No Known Exploit
Patch Available

Weaknesses 1

CWE-362

Affected Products 7

VendorProductVersionRange
linuxlinux_kernel*≥5.18  –  <6.1.24
linuxlinux_kernel*≥6.2  –  <6.2.11
linuxlinux_kernel6.3any
linuxlinux_kernel6.3any
linuxlinux_kernel6.3any
linuxlinux_kernel6.3any
linuxlinux_kernel6.3any

References 3

  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4ccf11c4e8a8e051499d53a12f502196c97a758e
    Patch
  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8826d9e7bd51e7656f78baa4472e8e2f5e7069f0
    Patch
  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9fe183f659a2704255e5d84f6ae308c234a113ec
    Patch

Remediation

  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4ccf11c4e8a8e051499d53a12f502196c97a758e
    Patch
  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8826d9e7bd51e7656f78baa4472e8e2f5e7069f0
    Patch
  • git.kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9fe183f659a2704255e5d84f6ae308c234a113ec
    Patch