CVE-2023-52660 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
media: rkisp1: Fix IRQ handling due to shared interrupts
The driver requests the interrupts as IRQF_SHARED, so the interrupt handlers can be called at any time. If such a call happens while the ISP is powered down, the SoC will hang as the driver tries to access the ISP registers.
This can be reproduced even without the platform sharing the IRQ line: Enable CONFIG_DEBUG_SHIRQ and unload the driver, and the board will hang.
Fix this by adding a new field, 'irqs_enabled', which is used to bail out from the interrupt handler when the ISP is not operational.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2023-52660 affects the Linux kernel's rockchip image signal processor version 1 driver, specifically addressing a critical issue in interrupt handling mechanisms. This flaw resides within the media subsystem of the kernel, where the rkisp1 driver manages hardware interrupts for image processing units. The vulnerability represents a classic race condition scenario that can lead to system instability and complete system hangs when the interrupt handling logic attempts to access disabled hardware resources.
The technical root cause stems from improper interrupt handling when the ISP (Image Signal Processor) is in a powered-down state. The driver registers its interrupt handlers with the IRQF_SHARED flag, which allows multiple devices to share the same interrupt line. This sharing mechanism becomes problematic when the interrupt handler executes while the ISP hardware is powered off or inactive. The interrupt service routine attempts to access ISP registers without verifying the hardware's operational status, resulting in a system hang as the SoC cannot properly handle the register access attempts to disabled hardware components.
This vulnerability manifests through a specific operational pattern that can be easily reproduced during driver unloading or when the ISP hardware is transitioning between powered states. The debugging capability CONFIG_DEBUG_SHIRQ enables the reproduction of this issue even in non-shared interrupt scenarios, demonstrating that the fundamental flaw exists in the interrupt handler's state management rather than the interrupt sharing mechanism itself. The system hang occurs because the driver lacks proper state validation before attempting hardware register access, creating a condition where the processor cannot continue execution due to invalid memory access attempts.
The fix implemented addresses this vulnerability by introducing a new boolean field named 'irqs_enabled' within the driver's data structure. This field serves as a runtime flag that tracks whether the interrupt handlers should be permitted to execute based on the ISP's current operational state. When the ISP is powered down or in an inactive state, this flag prevents the interrupt handler from attempting register access operations, effectively bailing out of the interrupt service routine before any hardware interaction occurs. This approach aligns with security best practices for interrupt handling and resource management in embedded systems, preventing unauthorized access to disabled hardware components.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability represents a privilege escalation risk that could potentially be exploited by malicious actors with access to system resources. The issue falls under CWE-362, which describes race conditions in interrupt handling, and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.003 for privilege escalation through kernel-level modifications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper resource state management in kernel drivers, particularly when dealing with shared hardware resources and interrupt handling mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability as it represents a potential denial-of-service vector that could compromise system availability and stability in embedded Linux systems utilizing Rockchip SoCs.
The mitigation strategy involves applying the kernel patch that introduces the irq_enabled flag mechanism, ensuring that interrupt handlers properly validate hardware state before executing register access operations. System administrators should also implement proper driver lifecycle management to prevent scenarios where drivers are unloaded while hardware resources remain in inconsistent states. Monitoring for interrupt-related system hangs and implementing proper logging of driver state transitions can help detect potential exploitation attempts or misconfigurations that might lead to similar vulnerabilities in other kernel subsystems.