CVE-2023-53448
📋 TL;DR
This CVE involves a double-release of memory regions in the Linux kernel's imxfb framebuffer driver, which could lead to resource leaks or unexpected behavior. Systems using affected Linux kernel versions with the imxfb driver loaded are vulnerable. The issue requires local access to exploit.
💻 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic or system crash leading to denial of service, potentially allowing local privilege escalation if combined with other vulnerabilities.
Likely Case
Resource leak causing degraded system performance or instability in the framebuffer subsystem.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if the driver isn't loaded or system has proper isolation controls.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and specific conditions to trigger the double release. No known public exploits.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions with commits 38282a92c304, 45fcc058a75b, or 6aa851f6276f
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/38282a92c30422836d49e519bd109237f86a0888
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify imxfb driver is updated.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable imxfb driver
linuxPrevent loading of the vulnerable framebuffer driver
echo 'blacklist imxfb' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-imxfb.conf
update-initramfs -u
reboot
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Ensure proper access controls to limit local user privileges
- Monitor system logs for kernel panics or resource exhaustion indicators
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if imxfb module is loaded: lsmod | grep imxfb. Check kernel version: uname -r and compare with patched versions.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version is updated and imxfb module version matches patched kernel. Check dmesg for any imxfb-related errors.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- Resource allocation failures in dmesg
- imxfb driver error messages
Network Indicators:
- None - local vulnerability only
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("imxfb" OR "double free" OR "resource leak")