CVE-2023-53169

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/resctrl: Clear staged_config[] before and after it is used As a temporary storage, staged_config[] in rdt_domain should be cleared before and after it is used. The stale value in staged_config[] could cause an MSR access error. Here is a reproducer on a system with 16 usable CLOSIDs for a 15-way L3 Cache (MBA should be disabled if the number of CLOSIDs for MB is less than 16.) : mount -t resctrl resctrl -o cdp /sys/fs/resctrl mkdir /sys/fs/resctrl/p{1..7} umount /sys/fs/resctrl/ mount -t resctrl resctrl /sys/fs/resctrl mkdir /sys/fs/resctrl/p{1..8} An error occurs when creating resource group named p8: unchecked MSR access error: WRMSR to 0xca0 (tried to write 0x00000000000007ff) at rIP: 0xffffffff82249142 (cat_wrmsr+0x32/0x60) Call Trace: <IRQ> __flush_smp_call_function_queue+0x11d/0x170 __sysvec_call_function+0x24/0xd0 sysvec_call_function+0x89/0xc0 </IRQ> <TASK> asm_sysvec_call_function+0x16/0x20 When creating a new resource control group, hardware will be configured by the following process: rdtgroup_mkdir() rdtgroup_mkdir_ctrl_mon() rdtgroup_init_alloc() resctrl_arch_update_domains() resctrl_arch_update_domains() iterates and updates all resctrl_conf_type whose have_new_ctrl is true. Since staged_config[] holds the same values as when CDP was enabled, it will continue to update the CDP_CODE and CDP_DATA configurations. When group p8 is created, get_config_index() called in resctrl_arch_update_domains() will return 16 and 17 as the CLOSIDs for CDP_CODE and CDP_DATA, which will be translated to an invalid register - 0xca0 in this scenario. Fix it by clearing staged_config[] before and after it is used. [reinette: re-order commit tags]

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2025-09-15
Last modified 2025-12-02
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

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 5.15 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.15.104, 6.1.21, 6.2.8, 6.3 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 5.15
Fixed in
✓ 5.15.104 5.15.x ✓ 6.1.21 6.1.x ✓ 6.2.8 6.2.x ✓ 6.3

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2023-53169 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-2023-53169?

    CVE-2023-53169 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.15 onward and has been patched in 5.15.104, 6.1.21, 6.2.8 and others. CVE-2023-53169 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2023-53169?

    CVE-2023-53169 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-2023-53169?

    Yes — CVE-2023-53169 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.15.104, 6.1.21, 6.2.8 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.15 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2023-53169 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2023-53169 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.