CVE-2023-53380
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a null pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel's RAID10 subsystem. An attacker with local access could trigger a kernel panic (denial of service) by exploiting a race condition during disk replacement operations. Systems using Linux software RAID10 with faulty disk replacement functionality are affected.
💻 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic leading to system crash and denial of service, potentially causing data corruption or loss in RAID arrays during the crash.
Likely Case
Local denial of service through kernel panic, requiring physical or remote console access to reboot the system.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper access controls preventing local user exploitation; system remains stable.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and timing to trigger the race condition; no public exploit code known.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions including commits: 144c7fd008e0072b0b565f1157eec618de54ca8a, 222cc459d59857ee28a5366dc225ab42b22f9272, 2990e2ece18dd4cca71b3109c80517ad94adb065, 34817a2441747b48e444cb0e05d84e14bc9443da, 45fa023b3334a7ae6f6c4eb977295804222dfa28
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/144c7fd008e0072b0b565f1157eec618de54ca8a
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to a patched version from your distribution's repositories. 2. Reboot the system to load the new kernel. 3. Verify the fix is applied by checking kernel version or commit inclusion.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable RAID10 or disk replacement
LinuxAvoid using RAID10 arrays or disable disk replacement functionality to prevent triggering the vulnerability.
echo 'options md_mod start_dirty_degraded=1' > /etc/modprobe.d/md_mod.conf
update-initramfs -u
reboot
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict local user access to prevent exploitation by untrusted users.
- Monitor system logs for kernel panic events and have recovery procedures ready.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if the system uses RAID10: cat /proc/mdstat; check kernel version against patched commits.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes one of the fix commits: uname -r; check distribution patch notes.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages in /var/log/kern.log or dmesg
- RAID10 sync or replacement errors
Network Indicators:
- None - local vulnerability only
SIEM Query:
source="kern.log" AND "kernel panic" AND "raid10"🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/144c7fd008e0072b0b565f1157eec618de54ca8a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/222cc459d59857ee28a5366dc225ab42b22f9272
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2990e2ece18dd4cca71b3109c80517ad94adb065
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/34817a2441747b48e444cb0e05d84e14bc9443da
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/45fa023b3334a7ae6f6c4eb977295804222dfa28
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b5015b97adda6a24dd3e713c63e521ecbeff25c6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f4368a462b1f9a8ecc2fdb09a28c3d4cad302a4f
