Cloudanix VulnDB

CVE-2023-53326

None

CVSS

—

EPSS

0.1%

Published

Sep 16, 2025

CISA due date

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Cloudanix analysis

Monitor only SSVC: Track

A bug in the Linux kernel on certain hardware can crash the entire system when background worker tasks produce diagnostic files.

Exploitation
Local Privilege
Attacker needs
Local User
Complexity
Theoretical
Impact
Denial Of Service
Component
OS kernel
Class
Memory Corruption
Remediation
Patch
Effort
Low
Patch risk
Low

What it actually does

NULL pointer dereference in ppr_get/ppr_set on powerpc when PF_IO_WORKER or PF_KTHREAD tasks with NULL pt_regs trigger coredump generation via regset operations.

Why it matters to the business

Kernel panic and system crash on powerpc Linux systems when I/O worker threads cause core dumps, resulting in service disruption and potential data loss on affected servers or embedded devices.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker triggers a coredump from a PF_IO_WORKER thread on powerpc; the kernel then calls ppr_get which attempts to read from a NULL pt_regs pointer during elf_core_dump, causing the dereference crash.

How to fix it

Apply the fix from commit 80a4200d51e5a7e046f4a90f5faa5bafd5a60c58 in the Linux kernel; upgrade to a fixed version such as those referenced for stable trees. Reboot after patching.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm kernel version contains commit 80a4200d51e5a7e046f4a90f5faa5bafd5a60c58; test coredump generation from I/O worker threads on powerpc hardware or emulation and verify absence of NULL dereference.

Typical attack path

  1. Create or trigger a PF_IO_WORKER thread on powerpc
  2. Cause the thread to generate a coredump (e.g., via signal or crash)
  3. Kernel invokes regset_get_alloc and ppr_get during core dump
  4. NULL pt_regs access leads to kernel oops and panic

How to detect it

Search kernel logs for oops messages referencing ppr_get, NULL pointer dereference at 0x00000160, or regset operations during do_coredump on powerpc systems.

What your security team should do

  • Prioritize patching powerpc Linux kernels within maintenance windows due to crash risk
  • Monitor for kernel oops involving ppr_get or memcpy_power7 during core dumps
  • Limit untrusted code execution that could trigger coredumps in worker threads

The record

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: powerpc: Don't try to copy PPR for task with NULL pt_regs powerpc sets up PF_KTHREAD and PF_IO_WORKER with a NULL pt_regs, which from my (arguably very short) checking is not commonly done for other archs. This is fine, except when PF_IO_WORKER's have been created and the task does something that causes a coredump to be generated. Then we get this crash: Kernel attempted to read user page (160) - exploit attempt? (uid: 1000) BUG: Kernel NULL pointer dereference on read at 0x00000160 Faulting instruction address: 0xc0000000000c3a60 Oops: Kernel access of bad area, sig: 11 [#1] LE PAGE_SIZE=64K MMU=Radix SMP NR_CPUS=32 NUMA pSeries Modules linked in: bochs drm_vram_helper drm_kms_helper xts binfmt_misc ecb ctr syscopyarea sysfillrect cbc sysimgblt drm_ttm_helper aes_generic ttm sg libaes evdev joydev virtio_balloon vmx_crypto gf128mul drm dm_mod fuse loop configfs drm_panel_orientation_quirks ip_tables x_tables autofs4 hid_generic usbhid hid xhci_pci xhci_hcd usbcore usb_common sd_mod CPU: 1 PID: 1982 Comm: ppc-crash Not tainted 6.3.0-rc2+ #88 Hardware name: IBM pSeries (emulated by qemu) POWER9 (raw) 0x4e1202 0xf000005 of:SLOF,HEAD hv:linux,kvm pSeries NIP: c0000000000c3a60 LR: c000000000039944 CTR: c0000000000398e0 REGS: c0000000041833b0 TRAP: 0300 Not tainted (6.3.0-rc2+) MSR: 800000000280b033 <SF,VEC,VSX,EE,FP,ME,IR,DR,RI,LE> CR: 88082828 XER: 200400f8 ... NIP memcpy_power7+0x200/0x7d0 LR ppr_get+0x64/0xb0 Call Trace: ppr_get+0x40/0xb0 (unreliable) __regset_get+0x180/0x1f0 regset_get_alloc+0x64/0x90 elf_core_dump+0xb98/0x1b60 do_coredump+0x1c34/0x24a0 get_signal+0x71c/0x1410 do_notify_resume+0x140/0x6f0 interrupt_exit_user_prepare_main+0x29c/0x320 interrupt_exit_user_prepare+0x6c/0xa0 interrupt_return_srr_user+0x8/0x138 Because ppr_get() is trying to copy from a PF_IO_WORKER with a NULL pt_regs. Check for a valid pt_regs in both ppc_get/ppr_set, and return an error if not set. The actual error value doesn't seem to be important here, so just pick -EINVAL. [mpe: Trim oops in change log, add Fixes & Cc stable]

Affected packages

Ecosystem Package Introduced Fixed
Debian:11 linux 0 5.10.178-1
Debian:12 linux 0 6.1.25-1
Debian:13 linux 0 6.1.25-1
Debian:14 linux 0 6.1.25-1
Linux Kernel 4.8.0 5.10.177
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP4 kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS kernel-64kb 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS kernel-default-base 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS kernel-docs 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS kernel-obs-build 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS kernel-source 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS kernel-syms 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-64kb 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-default-base 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-docs 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-obs-build 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-source 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-syms 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS kernel-64kb 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS kernel-default-base 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1.150500.6.59.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS kernel-docs 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS kernel-obs-build 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS kernel-source 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS kernel-syms 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-64kb 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-default-base 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1.150500.6.59.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-docs 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-obs-build 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-source 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-syms 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 kernel-default 0 4.12.14-122.275.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_73 0 1-8.3.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP4_Update_45 0 1-150400.9.3.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5_Update_31 0 1-150500.11.3.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 kernel-default-base 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 kernel-rt 0 5.14.21-150400.15.133.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 kernel-source-rt 0 5.14.21-150400.15.133.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 kernel-default-base 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 kernel-rt 0 5.14.21-150400.15.133.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 kernel-source-rt 0 5.14.21-150400.15.133.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 kernel-default-base 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1.150500.6.59.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 kernel-rt 0 5.14.21-150500.13.109.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 kernel-source 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 kernel-source-rt 0 5.14.21-150500.13.109.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS kernel-default 0 4.12.14-122.275.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS kernel-source 0 4.12.14-122.275.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS kernel-syms 0 4.12.14-122.275.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-64kb 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-default-base 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-docs 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-obs-build 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-source 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-syms 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-zfcpdump 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-64kb 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-default-base 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1.150500.6.59.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-docs 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-obs-build 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-source 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-syms 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-zfcpdump 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 kernel-default 0 4.12.14-122.275.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 kernel-source 0 4.12.14-122.275.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 kernel-syms 0 4.12.14-122.275.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 kernel-default-base 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 kernel-docs 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 kernel-obs-build 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 kernel-source 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 kernel-syms 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 kernel-default-base 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1.150500.6.59.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 kernel-docs 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 kernel-obs-build 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 kernel-source 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 kernel-syms 0 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1
SUSE:Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 kernel-default-base 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1
SUSE:Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 kernel-source 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 kernel-syms 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Manager Server LTS 4.3 kernel-default 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Manager Server LTS 4.3 kernel-default-base 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1
SUSE:Manager Server LTS 4.3 kernel-source 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Manager Server LTS 4.3 kernel-syms 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1
SUSE:Manager Server LTS 4.3 kernel-zfcpdump 0 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1

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