CVE-2023-53093

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing: Do not let histogram values have some modifiers Histogram values can not be strings, stacktraces, graphs, symbols, syscalls, or grouped in buckets or log. Give an error if a value is set to do so. Note, the histogram code was not prepared to handle these modifiers for histograms and caused a bug. Mark Rutland reported: # echo 'p:copy_to_user __arch_copy_to_user n=$arg2' >> /sys/kernel/tracing/kprobe_events # echo 'hist:keys=n:vals=hitcount.buckets=8:sort=hitcount' > /sys/kernel/tracing/events/kprobes/copy_to_user/trigger # cat /sys/kernel/tracing/events/kprobes/copy_to_user/hist [ 143.694628] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000000 [ 143.695190] Mem abort info: [ 143.695362] ESR = 0x0000000096000004 [ 143.695604] EC = 0x25: DABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits [ 143.695889] SET = 0, FnV = 0 [ 143.696077] EA = 0, S1PTW = 0 [ 143.696302] FSC = 0x04: level 0 translation fault [ 143.702381] Data abort info: [ 143.702614] ISV = 0, ISS = 0x00000004 [ 143.702832] CM = 0, WnR = 0 [ 143.703087] user pgtable: 4k pages, 48-bit VAs, pgdp=00000000448f9000 [ 143.703407] [0000000000000000] pgd=0000000000000000, p4d=0000000000000000 [ 143.704137] Internal error: Oops: 0000000096000004 [#1] PREEMPT SMP [ 143.704714] Modules linked in: [ 143.705273] CPU: 0 PID: 133 Comm: cat Not tainted 6.2.0-00003-g6fc512c10a7c #3 [ 143.706138] Hardware name: linux,dummy-virt (DT) [ 143.706723] pstate: 80000005 (Nzcv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 143.707120] pc : hist_field_name.part.0+0x14/0x140 [ 143.707504] lr : hist_field_name.part.0+0x104/0x140 [ 143.707774] sp : ffff800008333a30 [ 143.707952] x29: ffff800008333a30 x28: 0000000000000001 x27: 0000000000400cc0 [ 143.708429] x26: ffffd7a653b20260 x25: 0000000000000000 x24: ffff10d303ee5800 [ 143.708776] x23: ffffd7a6539b27b0 x22: ffff10d303fb8c00 x21: 0000000000000001 [ 143.709127] x20: ffff10d303ec2000 x19: 0000000000000000 x18: 0000000000000000 [ 143.709478] x17: 0000000000000000 x16: 0000000000000000 x15: 0000000000000000 [ 143.709824] x14: 0000000000000000 x13: 203a6f666e692072 x12: 6567676972742023 [ 143.710179] x11: 0a230a6d6172676f x10: 000000000000002c x9 : ffffd7a6521e018c [ 143.710584] x8 : 000000000000002c x7 : 7f7f7f7f7f7f7f7f x6 : 000000000000002c [ 143.710915] x5 : ffff10d303b0103e x4 : ffffd7a653b20261 x3 : 000000000000003d [ 143.711239] x2 : 0000000000020001 x1 : 0000000000000001 x0 : 0000000000000000 [ 143.711746] Call trace: [ 143.712115] hist_field_name.part.0+0x14/0x140 [ 143.712642] hist_field_name.part.0+0x104/0x140 [ 143.712925] hist_field_print+0x28/0x140 [ 143.713125] event_hist_trigger_print+0x174/0x4d0 [ 143.713348] hist_show+0xf8/0x980 [ 143.713521] seq_read_iter+0x1bc/0x4b0 [ 143.713711] seq_read+0x8c/0xc4 [ 143.713876] vfs_read+0xc8/0x2a4 [ 143.714043] ksys_read+0x70/0xfc [ 143.714218] __arm64_sys_read+0x24/0x30 [ 143.714400] invoke_syscall+0x50/0x120 [ 143.714587] el0_svc_common.constprop.0+0x4c/0x100 [ 143.714807] do_el0_svc+0x44/0xd0 [ 143.714970] el0_svc+0x2c/0x84 [ 143.715134] el0t_64_sync_handler+0xbc/0x140 [ 143.715334] el0t_64_sync+0x190/0x194 [ 143.715742] Code: a9bd7bfd 910003fd a90153f3 aa0003f3 (f9400000) [ 143.716510] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- Segmentation fault

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2025-05-02
Last modified 2025-11-12
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

5.5

out of 10
Medium
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-476

CVE-2023-53093 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability

What is NULL Pointer Dereference?

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 4.7 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.1.23, 6.2.8, 6.3 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 4.7
Fixed in
✓ 6.1.23 6.1.x ✓ 6.2.8 6.2.x ✓ 6.3

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2023-53093 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2023-53093?

    CVE-2023-53093 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 , classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference flaw (CWE-476) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 4.7 onward and has been patched in 6.1.23, 6.2.8 and 6.3. CVE-2023-53093 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2023-53093?

    CVE-2023-53093 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2023-53093?

    Yes — CVE-2023-53093 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.1.23, 6.2.8 and 6.3. If you are running Linux kernel 4.7 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2023-53093 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2023-53093 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

  • What is NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476)?

    The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. View CWE-476 on MITRE CWE →

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