CVE-2023-53298
📋 TL;DR
A memory leak vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's NFC subsystem where the secure element I/O context isn't properly freed during error conditions. This affects systems with NFC hardware and the nfc module loaded, potentially leading to resource exhaustion over time. The vulnerability requires local access or NFC interaction to trigger.
💻 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 →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 exhaust kernel memory, leading to system instability, denial of service, or kernel panic.
Likely Case
Gradual memory consumption over time requiring repeated triggering, potentially causing performance degradation or application failures.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper monitoring and memory limits in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires ability to trigger NFC secure element operations with specific error conditions. Not trivial to exploit for immediate impact.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits: 25ff6f8a5a3b8dc48e8abda6f013e8cc4b14ffea, 271eed1736426103335c5aac50f15b0f4d236bc0, 5321da6d84b87a34eea441677d649c34bd854169, 8978315cb4bf8878c9c8ec05dafd8f7ff539860d, af452e35b9e6a87cd49e54a7a3d60d934b194651
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/25ff6f8a5a3b8dc48e8abda6f013e8cc4b14ffea
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify nfc module loads correctly if needed.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable NFC module
linuxPrevent loading of nfc kernel module if not required
echo 'blacklist nfc' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nfc.conf
rmmod nfc
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Monitor kernel memory usage for unusual increases
- Restrict access to NFC hardware and related applications
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and if nfc module is loaded: lsmod | grep nfcCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes the patch commits or is newer than vulnerable versions📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel oom-killer messages
- Memory allocation failures in dmesg
- Repeated nfc-related errors
Network Indicators:
- None - local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("nfc" OR "memory allocation" OR "oom")🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/25ff6f8a5a3b8dc48e8abda6f013e8cc4b14ffea
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/271eed1736426103335c5aac50f15b0f4d236bc0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5321da6d84b87a34eea441677d649c34bd854169
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8978315cb4bf8878c9c8ec05dafd8f7ff539860d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/af452e35b9e6a87cd49e54a7a3d60d934b194651
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b2036a252381949d3b743a3de069324ae3028a57
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ba98db08895748c12e5ded52cd1598dce2c79e55
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c494365432dcdc549986f4d9af9eb6190cbdb153
