CVE-2023-52464 – This CVE describes a buffer overflow vulnerabil... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2023-52464?

CVE-2023-52464 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). This CVE describes a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Linux kernel's EDAC driver for ThunderX processors. The bug occurs when strncat() is incorrectly used instead of strlcat(), potentially allowing attackers to write beyond allocated buffer boundaries. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions with ThunderX EDAC driver enabled are vulnerable.

📋 TL;DR

This CVE describes a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Linux kernel's EDAC driver for ThunderX processors. The bug occurs when strncat() is incorrectly used instead of strlcat(), potentially allowing attackers to write beyond allocated buffer boundaries. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions with ThunderX EDAC driver enabled are vulnerable.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel

Versions: Specific kernel versions with the vulnerable thunderx_edac.c driver code prior to the fix commits

Operating Systems: Linux distributions using affected kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ✅ No

Notes: Only vulnerable if the ThunderX EDAC driver (CONFIG_EDAC_THUNDERX) is compiled and loaded. Many distributions may not enable this driver by default.

📦 What is this software?

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Kernel memory corruption leading to system crash, privilege escalation, or arbitrary code execution in kernel context.

🟠

Likely Case

System instability, kernel panic, or denial of service due to memory corruption.

🟢

If Mitigated

Minimal impact if driver is not loaded or system is patched.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - Kernel vulnerabilities typically require local access, though remote vectors could exist through other services.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Local attackers could exploit this for privilege escalation or DoS on vulnerable systems.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Requires local access to trigger the vulnerable code path. Exploitation would require understanding of kernel memory layout and driver usage patterns.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Kernel versions containing the fix commits listed in references

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/426fae93c01dffa379225eb2bd4d3cdc42c6eec5

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to patched version. 2. Rebuild kernel if compiling from source. 3. Reboot system to load new kernel.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable ThunderX EDAC driver

linux

Prevent loading of vulnerable driver module

echo 'blacklist thunderx_edac' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
rmmod thunderx_edac

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Ensure ThunderX EDAC driver is not loaded (check with lsmod)
Restrict local user access to systems with vulnerable driver

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check if thunderx_edac module is loaded: lsmod | grep thunderx_edac AND check kernel version against patched versions

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify kernel version is updated AND thunderx_edac module uses strlcat() instead of strncat() in the source

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel panic messages
EDAC error messages related to thunderx
System crash/reboot logs

Network Indicators:

None - local vulnerability

SIEM Query:

source="kernel" AND ("panic" OR "EDAC" OR "thunderx")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2023-52464

CVSS v3 Score: 7.8 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-119

Published: February 23, 2024

Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

📤 Share & Export

📄 Export Markdown 📋 Export JSON

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

If you're affected by CVE-2023-52464, you might also want to check these: