CVE-2023-52519
📋 TL;DR
A reference count overflow vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Intel ISH HID driver could allow local attackers to cause denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code. This affects systems with Elkhart Lake (EHL) platforms when the out-of-band service is enabled in BIOS. The vulnerability occurs during system resume when the driver improperly handles ACPI GPE bit re-enabling.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel
📦 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 panic leading to system crash, or potential privilege escalation to kernel-level code execution.
Likely Case
System instability, kernel crashes, or denial of service requiring reboot.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if systems are patched or the vulnerable feature is disabled.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access and specific hardware configuration. No public exploits known at this time.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Fixed in kernel commits 60fb3f054c99608ddb1f2466c07108da6292951e and related stable backports
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/60fb3f054c99608ddb1f2466c07108da6292951e
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix. 2. Check with your distribution for specific patched kernel versions. 3. Reboot system after kernel update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable BIOS OOB Service
linuxDisable the out-of-band service in BIOS settings to prevent the vulnerable code path from being triggered.
Blacklist intel-ish-hid Module
linuxPrevent the vulnerable module from loading by adding it to the kernel module blacklist.
echo 'blacklist intel_ish_hid' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
update-initramfs -u
reboot
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable the BIOS OOB service if not required for functionality
- Restrict local access to affected systems and monitor for unusual system crashes
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if system uses Intel Elkhart Lake CPU and has OOB service enabled in BIOS. Check kernel version against distribution advisories.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes the fix commit: 'uname -r' and check with distribution security advisories.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic logs
- System crash dumps
- Unexpected reboots
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("panic" OR "Oops" OR "general protection fault") AND process="intel_ish_hid"🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/60fb3f054c99608ddb1f2466c07108da6292951e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8781fe259dd5a178fdd1069401bbd1437f9491c5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8f02139ad9a7e6e5c05712f8c1501eebed8eacfd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cdcc04e844a2d22d9d25cef1e8e504a174ea9f8f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/60fb3f054c99608ddb1f2466c07108da6292951e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8781fe259dd5a178fdd1069401bbd1437f9491c5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8f02139ad9a7e6e5c05712f8c1501eebed8eacfd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cdcc04e844a2d22d9d25cef1e8e504a174ea9f8f
