CVE-2023-53047
📋 TL;DR
A race condition vulnerability in the AMD TEE (Trusted Execution Environment) driver in the Linux kernel could allow local attackers to cause a use-after-free condition, potentially leading to kernel panic or privilege escalation. This affects Linux systems with AMD processors that use the amdtee driver. Attackers need local access to exploit this vulnerability.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with AMD TEE driver (amdtee)
📦 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, or potential privilege escalation allowing attackers to gain elevated privileges on the system.
Likely Case
Kernel panic causing system crash and denial of service, requiring reboot to restore functionality.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper access controls limiting local user privileges and kernel hardening measures in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and precise timing to trigger the race condition. No public exploits have been reported.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Fixed in kernel commits: 02b296978a2137d7128151c542e84dc96400bc00, a63cce9393e4e7dbc5af82dc87e68cb321cb1a78, b3ef9e6fe09f1a132af28c623edcf4d4f39d9f35, f632a90f8e39db39b322107b9a8d438b826a7f4f, f8502fba45bd30e1a6a354d9d898bc99d1a11e6d
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/02b296978a2137d7128151c542e84dc96400bc00
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. Check with your distribution vendor for specific patched kernel versions. 3. Reboot system after kernel update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable AMD TEE module
linuxTemporarily disable the vulnerable amdtee kernel module if not required
sudo modprobe -r amdtee
echo 'blacklist amdtee' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/disable-amdtee.conf
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict local user access to prevent untrusted users from running code on the system
- Implement kernel hardening measures like SELinux/AppArmor to limit impact of potential privilege escalation
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and if amdtee module is loaded: lsmod | grep amdtee && uname -rCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version is updated to include fix commits and amdtee module loads without issues📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages in /var/log/kern.log or dmesg output
- AMD TEE driver crash logs
Network Indicators:
- None - local vulnerability only
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("panic" OR "Oops" OR "amdtee")🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/02b296978a2137d7128151c542e84dc96400bc00
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a63cce9393e4e7dbc5af82dc87e68cb321cb1a78
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b3ef9e6fe09f1a132af28c623edcf4d4f39d9f35
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f632a90f8e39db39b322107b9a8d438b826a7f4f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f8502fba45bd30e1a6a354d9d898bc99d1a11e6d
