CVE-2023-53037
📋 TL;DR
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's mpi3mr SCSI driver can cause kernel crashes when handling faulty storage devices. Attackers could potentially trigger this by connecting specially crafted storage devices or exploiting existing faulty hardware. This affects Linux systems using the mpi3mr driver with SAS Transport Layer support enabled.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with mpi3mr 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic leading to system crash and denial of service, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt critical systems or create instability for privilege escalation attempts.
Likely Case
System crash when faulty storage devices are connected or when existing devices fail, causing denial of service and potential data loss.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if systems are patched and proper storage device validation is in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires either physical access to connect malicious storage devices or the presence of faulty storage hardware that triggers the condition.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Linux kernel with commits 1f822ae8fb2a20fffa71e9bfa9b203c03d72d3ba, 8e45183978d64699df639e795235433a60f35047, and aa11e4b6cdb403b9fdef6939550f6b36dd61624d applied
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1f822ae8fb2a20fffa71e9bfa9b203c03d72d3ba
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 SAS Transport Layer support
linuxDisable the vulnerable SAS Transport Layer feature in the mpi3mr driver if not required
modprobe -r mpi3mr
modprobe mpi3mr enable_sas_transport=0
Blacklist mpi3mr driver
linuxPrevent loading of the vulnerable driver if not needed
echo 'blacklist mpi3mr' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict physical access to storage ports to prevent malicious device connections
- Monitor storage device health and replace faulty drives that fail INQUIRY commands
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if mpi3mr driver is loaded: lsmod | grep mpi3mr. Check kernel version against patched versions.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes fix commits: uname -r and check with distribution vendor. Test with known faulty storage device.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages related to mpi3mr driver
- Storage device INQUIRY failures in system logs
- Unexpected system crashes when storage devices are connected
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local driver vulnerability
SIEM Query:
search 'kernel panic' AND 'mpi3mr' OR 'SCSI' AND 'INQUIRY failed'