CVE-2023-53289
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel's bdisp media driver. If the create_workqueue function fails, the system could crash or become unstable. This affects Linux systems using the bdisp driver, typically in embedded or specialized media processing environments.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with bdisp media 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 →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 requiring physical access to restart the system.
Likely Case
System instability or crash when the bdisp driver attempts to initialize workqueues under memory-constrained conditions.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if the system has sufficient memory and the bdisp driver isn't heavily utilized.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires triggering the create_workqueue failure condition, which typically requires memory pressure or specific system state.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions containing the fix commits (0d09ce05724cfb3f5c5136893bec95305c641875 and related)
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0d09ce05724cfb3f5c5136893bec95305c641875
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Update to a patched kernel version from your distribution vendor. 2. For custom kernels, apply the git commits listed in references. 3. Recompile and install the updated kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable bdisp driver
LinuxPrevent loading of the vulnerable bdisp media driver module
echo 'blacklist bdisp' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-bdisp.conf
rmmod bdisp
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Ensure adequate system memory to prevent create_workqueue failures
- Monitor system for kernel panics and have recovery procedures ready
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if bdisp module is loaded: 'lsmod | grep bdisp'. If loaded and kernel version is unpatched, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Check kernel version against patched versions from vendor, or verify the fix commit is present in kernel source.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages in /var/log/kern.log or dmesg
- NULL pointer dereference errors in kernel logs
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("NULL pointer dereference" OR "kernel panic" OR "bdisp")🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0d09ce05724cfb3f5c5136893bec95305c641875
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2371adeab717d8fe32144a84f3491a03c5838cfb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2bfbe3ad371ac5349302833198df14e442622cbc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4362444dca02ab44ac844feda3cf6238ef953673
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/519b0849401194745ea40f9e07513b870afc1b42
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c2e55481731b0e8c96f30f661e430aa884fbd354
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c6a315f0b14074ac89723f55b749a557dda0ae2b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eef95a2745cb91559bb03aa111c228fe38deaf64
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fc1aeafdf6fb0a136c2257000f0d478ee62953fe
