CVE-2023-52753
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the AMD display driver component of the Linux kernel. An attacker could potentially cause a kernel panic or system crash by triggering this condition, affecting systems with AMD graphics hardware running vulnerable Linux kernel versions.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with AMD display driver (drm/amd/display)
📦 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 denial of service (system crash), potentially allowing limited information disclosure through crash dumps.
Likely Case
System instability or crash requiring reboot, resulting in temporary denial of service.
If Mitigated
No impact if proper kernel hardening is in place (panic_on_oops=0 may prevent full crash).
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access and ability to trigger specific display driver operations. Likely requires user interaction or specific GPU operations.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions containing the fix commits (09909f515032fa80b921fd3118efe66b185d10fd and others listed)
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09909f515032fa80b921fd3118efe66b185d10fd
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. For distributions: Use package manager (apt/yum/dnf) to update kernel package. 3. Reboot system to load new kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable driver module
linuxPrevent loading of the affected AMD display driver module
echo 'blacklist amdgpu' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
update-initramfs -u
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict local user access to systems with vulnerable configuration
- Implement kernel hardening (panic_on_oops=0) to reduce crash impact
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and if AMD GPU driver is loaded: 'uname -r' and 'lsmod | grep amdgpu'Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version is updated and contains the fix commits: 'uname -r' and check git log for commit hashes📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel oops messages in dmesg
- System crash/panic logs
- AMD GPU driver error messages
Network Indicators:
- None - local vulnerability only
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("Oops" OR "NULL pointer dereference" OR "amdgpu")🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09909f515032fa80b921fd3118efe66b185d10fd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4e497f1acd99075b13605b2e7fa0cba721a2cfd9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6d8653b1a7a8dc938b566ae8c4f373b36e792c68
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/79b6a90f4f2433312154cd68452b0ba501fa74db
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8a06894666e0b462c9316b26ab615cefdd0d676c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b1904ed480cee3f9f4036ea0e36d139cb5fee2d6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/df8bc953eed72371e43ca407bd063507f760cf89
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eac3e4760aa12159f7f5475d55a67b7933abc195
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09909f515032fa80b921fd3118efe66b185d10fd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4e497f1acd99075b13605b2e7fa0cba721a2cfd9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6d8653b1a7a8dc938b566ae8c4f373b36e792c68
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/79b6a90f4f2433312154cd68452b0ba501fa74db
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8a06894666e0b462c9316b26ab615cefdd0d676c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b1904ed480cee3f9f4036ea0e36d139cb5fee2d6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/df8bc953eed72371e43ca407bd063507f760cf89
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eac3e4760aa12159f7f5475d55a67b7933abc195
