Linux: Improper Locking
CVE-2023-52524 is a high-severity improper locking vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 191d87a19cf1005ecf41e1ae08d74e17379e8391, dba849cc98113b145c6e720122942c00b8012bdb, 4837a192f6d06d5bb2f3f47d6ce5353ab69bf86b as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.18% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux to 191d87a19cf1005ecf41e1ae08d74e17379e8391 or dba849cc98113b145c6e720122942c00b8012bdb or 4837a192f6d06d5bb2f3f47d6ce5353ab69bf86b or 7562780e32b84196731d57dd24563546fcf6d082, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 5.4.258 or 5.10.198 or 5.15.135 or 6.1.57, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | dd6ff3f3862709ab1a12566e73b9d6a9b8f6e548 up to, but not including, 191d87a19cf1005ecf41e1ae08d74e17379e8391; 96f2c6f272ec04083d828de46285a7d7b17d1aad up to, but not including, dba849cc98113b145c6e720122942c00b8012bdb; fc8429f8d86801f092fbfbd257c3af821ac0dcd3 up to, but not including, 4837a192f6d06d5bb2f3f47d6ce5353ab69bf86b; 425d9d3a92df7d96b3cfb7ee5c240293a21cbde3 up to, but not including, 7562780e32b84196731d57dd24563546fcf6d082; 6709d4b7bc2e079241fdef15d1160581c5261c10 up to, but not including, 29c16c2bf5866326d5fbc4a537b3997fcac23391; 6709d4b7bc2e079241fdef15d1160581c5261c10 up to, but not including, dfc7f7a988dad34c3bf4c053124fb26aa6c5f916; b3ad46e155a6d91b36c6e892019a43e3ef3c696d; e5207c1d69b1a9707615ab6ff9376e59fc096815; and 7 more ranges | 191d87a19cf1005ecf41e1ae08d74e17379e8391, dba849cc98113b145c6e720122942c00b8012bdb, 4837a192f6d06d5bb2f3f47d6ce5353ab69bf86b, 7562780e32b84196731d57dd24563546fcf6d082, 29c16c2bf5866326d5fbc4a537b3997fcac23391, dfc7f7a988dad34c3bf4c053124fb26aa6c5f916 |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 5.4.251 up to, but not including, 5.4.258; 5.10.188 up to, but not including, 5.10.198; 5.15.121 up to, but not including, 5.15.135; 6.1.39 up to, but not including, 6.1.57; 6.5 up to, but not including, 6.5.7; 6.6 | 5.4.258, 5.10.198, 5.15.135, 6.1.57, 6.5.7 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: nfc: llcp: Add lock when modifying device list The device list needs its associated lock held when modifying it, or the list could become corrupted, as syzbot discovered.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Locking
The product does not properly acquire or release a lock on a resource, leading to unexpected resource state changes and behaviors.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use industry standard APIs to implement locking mechanism.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/191d87a19cf1005ecf41e1ae08d74e17379e8391
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/29c16c2bf5866326d5fbc4a537b3997fcac23391
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4837a192f6d06d5bb2f3f47d6ce5353ab69bf86b
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7562780e32b84196731d57dd24563546fcf6d082
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/dba849cc98113b145c6e720122942c00b8012bdb
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/dfc7f7a988dad34c3bf4c053124fb26aa6c5f916
Recent Improper Locking vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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