CVE-2023-53092
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a memory leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel's interconnect subsystem for Exynos chipsets. When the probe function fails during PM QoS initialization, it doesn't properly clean up allocated interconnect nodes, leading to kernel memory exhaustion over time. This affects Linux systems using Exynos-based hardware.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel
📦 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
Sustained exploitation could lead to kernel memory exhaustion, causing system instability, denial of service, or potential kernel crashes.
Likely Case
Memory leak gradually consumes kernel resources, potentially leading to system performance degradation or instability over time.
If Mitigated
With proper monitoring and patching, impact is minimal as this requires local access and doesn't provide privilege escalation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and knowledge of how to trigger the specific error path during driver initialization. No known public exploits exist.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel commits: 3aab264875bf3c915ea2517fae1eec213e0b4987, b71dd43bd49bd68186c1d19dbeedee219e003149, c479e4ac4a3d1485a48599e66ce46547c1367828, fd4738ae1a0c216d25360a98e835967b06d6a253
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3aab264875bf3c915ea2517fae1eec213e0b4987
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update to a patched Linux kernel version containing the fix commits. 2. Reboot the system to load the new kernel. 3. Verify the fix is applied by checking kernel version or commit hashes.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable affected driver module
linuxPrevent loading of the vulnerable exynos interconnect driver if not needed
echo 'blacklist exynos-interconnect' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Monitor kernel memory usage and system stability metrics for signs of memory leaks
- Restrict local user access to systems with Exynos hardware to reduce attack surface
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if system uses Exynos hardware and has the vulnerable kernel version. Use 'uname -r' and check hardware specifications.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes the fix commits or is newer than the patched versions. Check with 'uname -r' and compare against distribution security advisories.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel oom-killer messages
- Memory allocation failures in kernel logs
- System instability or crash reports
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
Search for kernel panic logs, memory allocation failures, or system crash events on Exynos-based systems