CVE-2023-52899 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 08/21/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
Add exception protection processing for vd in axi_chan_handle_err function
Since there is no protection for vd, a kernel panic will be triggered here in exceptional cases.
You can refer to the processing of axi_chan_block_xfer_complete function
The triggered kernel panic is as follows:
[ 67.848444] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000060
[ 67.848447] Mem abort info:
[ 67.848449] ESR = 0x96000004
[ 67.848451] EC = 0x25: DABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits
[ 67.848454] SET = 0, FnV = 0
[ 67.848456] EA = 0, S1PTW = 0
[ 67.848458] Data abort info:
[ 67.848460] ISV = 0, ISS = 0x00000004
[ 67.848462] CM = 0, WnR = 0
[ 67.848465] user pgtable: 4k pages, 48-bit VAs, pgdp=00000800c4c0b000
[ 67.848468] [0000000000000060] pgd=0000000000000000, p4d=0000000000000000
[ 67.848472] Internal error: Oops: 96000004 [#1] SMP
[ 67.848475] Modules linked in: dmatest
[ 67.848479] CPU: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper/0 Not tainted 5.10.100-emu_x2rc+ #11
[ 67.848483] pstate: 62000085 (nZCv daIf -PAN -UAO +TCO BTYPE=--)
[ 67.848487] pc : axi_chan_handle_err+0xc4/0x230
[ 67.848491] lr : axi_chan_handle_err+0x30/0x230
[ 67.848493] sp : ffff0803fe55ae50
[ 67.848495] x29: ffff0803fe55ae50 x28: ffff800011212200
[ 67.848500] x27: ffff0800c42c0080 x26: ffff0800c097c080
[ 67.848504] x25: ffff800010d33880 x24: ffff80001139d850
[ 67.848508] x23: ffff0800c097c168 x22: 0000000000000000
[ 67.848512] x21: 0000000000000080 x20: 0000000000002000
[ 67.848517] x19: ffff0800c097c080 x18: 0000000000000000
[ 67.848521] x17: 0000000000000000 x16: 0000000000000000
[ 67.848525] x15: 0000000000000000 x14: 0000000000000000
[ 67.848529] x13: 0000000000000000 x12: 0000000000000040
[ 67.848533] x11: ffff0800c0400248 x10: ffff0800c040024a
[ 67.848538] x9 : ffff800010576cd4 x8 : ffff0800c0400270
[ 67.848542] x7 : 0000000000000000 x6 : ffff0800c04003e0
[ 67.848546] x5 : ffff0800c0400248 x4 : ffff0800c4294480
[ 67.848550] x3 : dead000000000100 x2 : dead000000000122
[ 67.848555] x1 : 0000000000000100 x0 : ffff0800c097c168
[ 67.848559] Call trace:
[ 67.848562] axi_chan_handle_err+0xc4/0x230
[ 67.848566] dw_axi_dma_interrupt+0xf4/0x590
[ 67.848569] __handle_irq_event_percpu+0x60/0x220
[ 67.848573] handle_irq_event+0x64/0x120
[ 67.848576] handle_fasteoi_irq+0xc4/0x220
[ 67.848580] __handle_domain_irq+0x80/0xe0
[ 67.848583] gic_handle_irq+0xc0/0x138
[ 67.848585] el1_irq+0xc8/0x180
[ 67.848588] arch_cpu_idle+0x14/0x2c
[ 67.848591] default_idle_call+0x40/0x16c
[ 67.848594] do_idle+0x1f0/0x250
[ 67.848597] cpu_startup_entry+0x2c/0x60
[ 67.848600] rest_init+0xc0/0xcc
[ 67.848603] arch_call_rest_init+0x14/0x1c
[ 67.848606] start_kernel+0x4cc/0x500
[ 67.848610] Code: eb0002ff 9a9f12d6 f2fbd5a2 f2fbd5a3 (a94602c1)
[ 67.848613] ---[ end trace 585a97036f88203a ]---
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-52899 resides within the Linux kernel's device driver subsystem, specifically affecting the axi_chan_handle_err function within the dmaengine framework. This flaw represents a classic null pointer dereference issue that occurs when the virtual descriptor (vd) pointer is not properly validated before access. The function lacks essential exception handling mechanisms that would normally be present in similar error processing functions within the same driver module. The problem manifests as a kernel panic when the system encounters exceptional error conditions during DMA channel operations, particularly when handling AXI DMA interrupts.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions that can lead to system crashes and potential denial of service scenarios. The kernel panic traceback reveals that execution flow leads directly to the axi_chan_handle_err function where the null pointer dereference occurs at virtual address 0x60, indicating that the vd parameter is not being checked for validity before being accessed. This particular memory access pattern demonstrates how the kernel's memory management system cannot properly handle the invalid pointer reference, resulting in an immediate system halt. The function's call trace shows it is invoked from dw_axi_dma_interrupt, which is part of the interrupt handling chain for AXI DMA controllers, making this vulnerability particularly impactful in systems utilizing such hardware components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability as it can lead to complete system crashes in production environments, especially those using embedded systems or real-time applications that rely heavily on DMA operations. The vulnerability affects systems running kernel versions that include the affected driver code, potentially compromising availability and reliability of critical infrastructure. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be leveraged in a denial of service attack (T1499) where an attacker might trigger the specific error condition through malformed DMA operations or by exploiting other related vulnerabilities that could cause the driver to enter the problematic error handling path. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is enhanced by the fact that it occurs during interrupt processing, which means that even legitimate system operations could trigger the condition under specific error scenarios.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves implementing proper null pointer validation within the axi_chan_handle_err function, following the established pattern used in the axi_chan_block_xfer_complete function which already contains appropriate exception handling. This remediation approach ensures that the virtual descriptor pointer is validated before any access operations occur, preventing the kernel from attempting to dereference a null pointer. System administrators should prioritize updating to kernel versions that contain the patched driver code, which typically includes additional defensive programming practices such as early validation of function parameters and proper error state management. The fix should also consider implementing broader error handling patterns that align with kernel security best practices and maintain system stability even under unexpected error conditions. Organizations using affected systems should conduct thorough testing of the patched kernel to ensure that the remediation does not introduce any regressions in DMA functionality while maintaining the intended security protections.