CVE-2023-2008 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2023
A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's udmabuf device driver. The specific flaw exists within a fault handler. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a memory access past the end of an array. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of the kernel.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2008 resides within the Linux kernel's udmabuf device driver, representing a critical security flaw that undermines system integrity and operational security. This device driver facilitates user-space access to DMA buffers, creating a pathway for potential exploitation through improper data validation mechanisms. The udmabuf driver operates at a low level within the kernel space, making it particularly dangerous as it interfaces directly with hardware memory management and user-space applications. The flaw manifests specifically within the fault handler component, which is responsible for managing memory access violations and page faults that occur when applications attempt to access memory regions that are not properly mapped or accessible.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the kernel's memory management subsystem, where user-supplied data is not sufficiently verified before being processed. This deficiency creates a classic buffer overread condition that falls under the CWE-129 vulnerability category, specifically addressing improper validation of array indices. The fault handler's failure to validate bounds on user-provided data allows an attacker to craft malicious input that can cause the kernel to access memory locations beyond the intended array boundaries. This memory access violation can result in information disclosure, system instability, or more critically, privilege escalation capabilities that enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-2008 extends far beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides a direct pathway for privilege escalation attacks that align with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can transition from a regular user context to kernel-level execution, bypassing all standard security controls and access restrictions. This escalation capability means the attacker gains complete control over the system, including the ability to modify kernel memory, install rootkits, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernels with the udmabuf driver enabled, making it particularly concerning for embedded systems, servers, and any environment where DMA operations are utilized for high-performance data transfer.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-2008 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The most effective approach involves applying the latest kernel patches that implement proper bounds checking within the udmabuf driver's fault handler, thereby preventing the memory access violations that enable exploitation. Organizations should prioritize kernel updates across all affected systems, particularly those running embedded Linux distributions or specialized hardware platforms that rely heavily on DMA operations. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous memory access patterns or privilege escalation attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, making it essential to maintain proper system logging and anomaly detection capabilities. Security teams should also consider implementing kernel lockdown mechanisms and disabling unnecessary device drivers to reduce the attack surface, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues within other kernel subsystems.