CVE-2023-52870
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the MediaTek clock driver for the Linux kernel. If the mtk_alloc_clk_data() function fails and returns NULL, subsequent code attempts to dereference this NULL pointer, causing a kernel panic or system crash. This affects Linux systems using MediaTek MT6765 chipsets.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with MediaTek MT6765 clock driver
📦 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic leading to complete system crash and denial of service, potentially requiring physical reboot.
Likely Case
System instability or crash when the specific clock initialization fails, causing temporary denial of service.
If Mitigated
Minor system instability that may be recoverable without full reboot if kernel has appropriate error handling.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires ability to trigger the specific error condition in mtk_alloc_clk_data() function, typically requiring kernel-level access or specific hardware conditions.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Fixed in kernel commits: 10cc81124407d862f0f747db4baa9c006510b480, 2617aa8ceaf30e41d3eb7f5fef3445542bef193a, 533ca5153ad6c7b7d47ae0114b14d0333964b946, b5ff3e89b4e7f46ad2aa0de7e08d18e6f87d71bc, b82681042724924ae3ba0f2f2eeec217fa31e830
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/10cc81124407d862f0f747db4baa9c006510b480
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. 3. Reboot system to load new kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable MT6765 clock driver module
linuxPrevent loading of the vulnerable kernel module if not required
echo 'blacklist clk-mt6765' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict local user access to prevent triggering the vulnerability
- Implement monitoring for kernel panics and system crashes
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and if clk-mt6765 module is loaded: lsmod | grep clk_mt6765Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes fix commits or check /proc/version for patched kernel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages in /var/log/kern.log or dmesg
- NULL pointer dereference errors in system logs
Network Indicators:
- Sudden loss of connectivity from affected system
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("NULL pointer" OR "kernel panic" OR "clk-mt6765")🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/10cc81124407d862f0f747db4baa9c006510b480
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2617aa8ceaf30e41d3eb7f5fef3445542bef193a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/533ca5153ad6c7b7d47ae0114b14d0333964b946
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b5ff3e89b4e7f46ad2aa0de7e08d18e6f87d71bc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b82681042724924ae3ba0f2f2eeec217fa31e830
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dd1f30d68fa98eb672c0a259297b761656a9025f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/10cc81124407d862f0f747db4baa9c006510b480
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2617aa8ceaf30e41d3eb7f5fef3445542bef193a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/533ca5153ad6c7b7d47ae0114b14d0333964b946
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b5ff3e89b4e7f46ad2aa0de7e08d18e6f87d71bc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b82681042724924ae3ba0f2f2eeec217fa31e830
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dd1f30d68fa98eb672c0a259297b761656a9025f
