CVE-2023-53352
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a null pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel's TTM (Translation Table Maps) memory management subsystem. When the kernel attempts to swap out buffer objects, it fails to check for null pointers before accessing memory, potentially causing kernel crashes or denial of service. This affects Linux systems with DRM/TTM graphics drivers, particularly those using AMD GPU drivers.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with TTM subsystem
📦 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic leading to system crash and denial of service, potentially causing data loss or system instability.
Likely Case
System crash or kernel panic when memory swapping operations occur under specific conditions, requiring system reboot.
If Mitigated
Minor performance impact from the added null pointer check with no security impact when patched.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires triggering specific memory swapping operations in the TTM subsystem, typically through graphics operations.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Linux kernel with commits: 1fdd16d89c01336d9a942b5f03673c17d401da87, 2dedcf414bb01b8d966eb445db1d181d92304fb2, 49b3b979e79faef129605018ad82aa0f2258f2f7, 8089eb93d6787dbf348863e935698b4610d90321, d39971d902d067b4dc366981b75b17c8c57ed5d1
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1fdd16d89c01336d9a942b5f03673c17d401da87
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. Check your distribution's security advisories for specific patched kernel versions. 3. Reboot system after kernel update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable TTM swapping
linuxPrevent TTM memory swapping operations that trigger the vulnerability
echo 0 > /sys/module/ttm/parameters/swap_enabled
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict local user access to systems with vulnerable kernels
- Monitor for kernel panic/crash events and implement high availability solutions
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and compare with distribution's security advisory for patched versionsCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes the fix commits or check with 'dmesg | grep -i ttm' for absence of null pointer errors📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- null-ptr-deref KASAN reports
- general protection fault errors in dmesg
- TTM subsystem crash logs
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local kernel vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("null-ptr-deref" OR "general protection fault" OR "ttm_bo_swapout" OR "KASAN: null-ptr-deref")🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1fdd16d89c01336d9a942b5f03673c17d401da87
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2dedcf414bb01b8d966eb445db1d181d92304fb2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/49b3b979e79faef129605018ad82aa0f2258f2f7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8089eb93d6787dbf348863e935698b4610d90321
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d39971d902d067b4dc366981b75b17c8c57ed5d1
