#VU99770 NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel - CVE-2023-52920

Vulnerability identifier: #VU99770

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 4.3 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2023-52920

CWE-ID: CWE-476

Exploitation vector: Local

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Linux kernel
Operating systems & Components / Operating system

Vendor: Linux Foundation

Description

The vulnerability allows a local user to perform a denial of service (DoS) attack.

The vulnerability exists due to NULL pointer dereference within the BPF_MOV64_REG() and BPF_RAW_INSN() functions in tools/testing/selftests/bpf/verifier/precise.c, within the subprog_spill_reg_precise() function in tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/verifier_subprog_precision.c, within the copy_verifier_state(), check_reg_arg(), is_jmp_point(), bt_is_reg_set(), calls_callback(), backtrack_insn(), __mark_chain_precision(), check_stack_write_fixed_off(), check_stack_read_fixed_off(), check_atomic(), push_jmp_history() and do_check() functions in kernel/bpf/verifier.c. A local user can perform a denial of service (DoS) attack.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Linux kernel: All versions

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External links
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41f6f64e6999a837048b1bd13a2f8742964eca6b

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

No. This vulnerability can be exploited locally. The attacker should have authentication credentials and successfully authenticate on the system.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.