CVE-2023-53228 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/amdgpu: drop redundant sched job cleanup when cs is aborted
Once command submission failed due to userptr invalidation in amdgpu_cs_submit, legacy code will perform cleanup of scheduler job. However, it's not needed at all, as former commit has integrated job cleanup stuff into amdgpu_job_free. Otherwise, because of double free, a NULL pointer dereference will occur in such scenario.
Bug: https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/drm/amd/-/issues/2457
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-53228 resides within the Linux kernel's amdgpu driver component, specifically affecting the graphics processing unit subsystem. This issue manifests in the drm/amdgpu module where redundant cleanup operations are performed during command submission failures. The problem occurs when command submission fails due to userptr invalidation in the amdgpu_cs_submit function, creating a scenario where legacy code attempts to clean up scheduler jobs unnecessarily. This redundancy represents a fundamental flaw in the kernel's memory management and resource handling procedures.
The technical root cause stems from the improper handling of scheduler job cleanup operations within the amdgpu driver's command submission pipeline. When command submission fails, the legacy code path attempts to perform cleanup of scheduler jobs even though a more recent commit has already integrated job cleanup functionality directly into the amdgpu_job_free function. This creates a double free scenario where the same memory resources are being freed twice, leading to a NULL pointer dereference. The vulnerability specifically impacts the graphics command submission process and occurs in the context of AMD GPU drivers within the Linux kernel ecosystem. The issue is classified under CWE-415 as an improper cleanup of memory resources, and potentially CWE-476 as a NULL pointer dereference.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for systems utilizing AMD GPUs with the Linux kernel, particularly in environments where graphics command submission is frequent. When the double free condition occurs, it can result in kernel panic or system crashes, leading to complete system instability and potential denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects the reliability and stability of graphics processing operations, which could impact applications requiring GPU acceleration, including gaming systems, professional graphics workstations, and server environments utilizing AMD GPUs for compute tasks. The NULL pointer dereference represents a critical kernel-level flaw that can be exploited to cause system-wide failures rather than just application-level issues.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on applying the upstream kernel patches that address the redundant cleanup logic and ensure proper resource management within the amdgpu driver. System administrators should prioritize updating their Linux kernel versions to include the fix that removes the redundant scheduler job cleanup code and prevents the double free condition. The fix involves removing the unnecessary cleanup operations that were previously performed in amdgpu_cs_submit, allowing the integrated cleanup functionality in amdgpu_job_free to handle all resource management properly. Organizations should also implement monitoring for system stability indicators and ensure that graphics-intensive applications are tested after kernel updates to verify proper GPU functionality. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of careful code review and the potential for seemingly minor redundancy issues to cause critical system failures in kernel space operations.