CVE-2023-52647 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 05/01/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
media: nxp: imx8-isi: Check whether crossbar pad is non-NULL before access
When translating source to sink streams in the crossbar subdev, the driver tries to locate the remote subdev connected to the sink pad. The remote pad may be NULL, if userspace tries to enable a stream that ends at an unconnected crossbar sink. When that occurs, the driver dereferences the NULL pad, leading to a crash.
Prevent the crash by checking if the pad is NULL before using it, and return an error if it is.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-52647 affects the Linux kernel's media subsystem, specifically within the nxp imx8-isi driver that handles image sensor interface operations for i.MX8 SoC platforms. This issue represents a classic null pointer dereference flaw that can lead to system instability and potential denial of service conditions. The vulnerability resides in the crossbar subdevice implementation where the driver attempts to manage stream routing between source and sink components in the media pipeline. The affected driver is responsible for handling image sensor data flow in embedded systems, particularly those utilizing NXP's i.MX8 processor families.
The technical flaw occurs during the stream translation process when the driver attempts to locate the remote subdevice connected to a sink pad in the crossbar configuration. The driver performs operations that assume a valid remote pad connection exists, without first validating whether the pad reference is null. This validation gap becomes critical when userspace applications attempt to enable streams that terminate at unconnected crossbar sink pads. When such a scenario occurs, the driver proceeds to dereference the NULL pad pointer, resulting in immediate system crash or kernel panic. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions in software implementations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, as it can be exploited to cause denial of service in embedded systems that rely on continuous media processing capabilities. In automotive, industrial, or embedded computing environments where the i.MX8 platform is deployed, such a crash could result in complete system failure or data loss. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through legitimate userspace operations without requiring elevated privileges, making it accessible to any process running on the system. This represents a significant security risk in environments where system availability is critical, as attackers could potentially exploit this condition to disrupt services or cause unintended system shutdowns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-52647 involve implementing proper null pointer validation before accessing pad references in the driver code. The fix requires adding a conditional check to verify that the remote pad is not NULL before attempting to use it in subsequent operations. This approach aligns with defensive programming practices recommended in various cybersecurity frameworks and follows the principle of input validation. System administrators should ensure that all kernel updates containing the fix are applied promptly, particularly in production environments where the affected i.MX8 platforms are deployed. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper error handling in kernel space code and demonstrates how seemingly simple validation checks can prevent catastrophic system failures. This fix pattern corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which deals with network disruption through system resource exhaustion, as the crash could effectively render the media subsystem unavailable. Organizations should monitor their kernel versions and verify that the specific patch addressing this vulnerability has been properly integrated into their systems.