CVE-2023-53413
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a memory leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel's USB isp116x driver when using debugfs_lookup() without proper cleanup. The vulnerability allows attackers to cause kernel memory exhaustion over time, potentially leading to denial of service. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions with the isp116x USB driver loaded are vulnerable.
💻 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Sustained exploitation could exhaust kernel memory, causing system instability, crashes, or denial of service requiring reboot.
Likely Case
Gradual memory consumption leading to performance degradation and eventual system instability over extended periods.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper monitoring and memory limits in place; system remains functional but may experience performance issues.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires ability to trigger debugfs operations on the isp116x driver; typically needs local access or USB device manipulation.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits: 542a99cd6eadfb543bf190431c3fb520f3da0bbc, 6f12097467ea1ef57f29dd29c1d082e4752cef37, a60b4902a626dda08a31d9cf89ccce11bef8dd33, a95f62d5813facbec20ec087472eb313ee5fa8af
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution vendor. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify isp116x driver is using debugfs_lookup_and_remove() instead of debugfs_lookup().
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable debugfs for isp116x driver
LinuxPrevent debugfs operations on the vulnerable driver by unloading module or disabling debugfs
rmmod isp116x-hcd
echo 0 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/options/enable_debug
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Monitor kernel memory usage and system logs for memory exhaustion warnings
- Restrict physical USB access and local user privileges to prevent exploitation
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if isp116x driver is loaded: lsmod | grep isp116x. Check kernel version against patched commits.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes fix commits. Check driver source code uses debugfs_lookup_and_remove().📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel oom-killer messages
- Memory allocation failures in dmesg
- Rising kernel memory usage in /proc/meminfo
Network Indicators:
- None - local vulnerability only
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("oom-killer" OR "memory allocation failure" OR "isp116x")