CVE Catalog

CVE-2023-52771

MediumCVSS 4.7
Published: Updated: Translated: NVD NIST

Exploitation Probability (EPSS)

Low risk
0.18%

8th percentile - higher than 8% of all known CVEs

Summary

In the Linux kernel, a race condition exists in the CXL subsystem between delete_endpoint() and parent port unregistration. The bug involves a missing reference on the parent device and incorrect use of port->dev instead of endpoint->dev.parent in RCH topologies, leading to use-after-free and spinlock corruption.

Risk Assessment

This can cause kernel crashes (kernel panic) and system instability, especially in environments using CXL devices. In extreme cases, the vulnerability could be exploited for privilege escalation or denial of service.

Recommendation

Update the Linux kernel to a version containing the fix (commit addressing both bugs). If immediate update is not possible, consider limiting CXL subsystem usage or applying workarounds to isolate affected devices.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

See all
Original NVD description (English source)

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cxl/port: Fix delete_endpoint() vs parent unregistration race The CXL subsystem, at cxl_mem ->probe() time, establishes a lineage of ports (struct cxl_port objects) between an endpoint and the root of a CXL topology. Each port including the endpoint port is attached to the cxl_port driver. Given that setup, it follows that when either any port in that lineage goes through a cxl_port ->remove() event, or the memdev goes through a cxl_mem ->remove() event. The hierarchy below the removed port, or the entire hierarchy if the memdev is removed needs to come down. The delete_endpoint() callback is careful to check whether it is being called to tear down the hierarchy, or if it is only being called to teardown the memdev because an ancestor port is going through ->remove(). That care needs to take the device_lock() of the endpoint's parent. Which requires 2 bugs to be fixed: 1/ A reference on the parent is needed to prevent use-after-free scenarios like this signature: BUG: spinlock bad magic on CPU#0, kworker/u56:0/11 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS edk2-20230524-3.fc38 05/24/2023 Workqueue: cxl_port detach_memdev [cxl_core] RIP: 0010:spin_bug+0x65/0xa0 Call Trace: do_raw_spin_lock+0x69/0xa0 __mutex_lock+0x695/0xb80 delete_endpoint+0xad/0x150 [cxl_core] devres_release_all+0xb8/0x110 device_unbind_cleanup+0xe/0x70 device_release_driver_internal+0x1d2/0x210 detach_memdev+0x15/0x20 [cxl_core] process_one_work+0x1e3/0x4c0 worker_thread+0x1dd/0x3d0 2/ In the case of RCH topologies, the parent device that needs to be locked is not always @port->dev as returned by cxl_mem_find_port(), use endpoint->dev.parent instead.

Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS