CVE-2023-53022
📋 TL;DR
A deadlock vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ENETC Ethernet controller driver allows an attacker to cause a kernel deadlock by triggering specific network conditions. This affects systems using ENETC hardware with the vulnerable driver version, potentially leading to denial of service.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel ENETC Ethernet controller 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 →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
Complete system lockup requiring hard reboot, disrupting all network services and system functionality.
Likely Case
Network interface lockup causing denial of service for affected network interfaces, potentially disrupting network-dependent applications.
If Mitigated
Minor performance impact from workaround implementation or no impact if patched.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires specific timing conditions and network traffic patterns. No public exploit code known.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Fixed in kernel commits: 3c463721a73bdb57a913e0d3124677a3758886fc, 8232e5a84d25a84a5cbda0f241a00793fb6eb608, e893dced1a18e77b1262f5c10169413f0ece0da7
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c463721a73bdb57a913e0d3124677a3758886fc
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. Check distribution-specific security advisories. 3. Reboot system after kernel update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable one-step timestamping
linuxDisable the ENETC one-step timestamping feature that triggers the vulnerable code path
ethtool -K <interface> tx-timestamping off
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable or replace ENETC network interfaces if possible
- Implement network segmentation to limit exposure to potential trigger traffic
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and if ENETC hardware is present: 'uname -r' and 'lspci | grep -i enetc'Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version is updated beyond vulnerable range and check for presence of fix commits in kernel source📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel lockdep warnings mentioning enetc_tx_onestep_tstamp
- System hang/crash logs with ENETC driver involvement
Network Indicators:
- Sudden loss of network connectivity on ENETC interfaces
- Increased network timeouts
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("enetc_tx_onestep_tstamp" OR "lockdep" AND "deadlock")