CVE-2023-53336 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
media: ipu-bridge: Fix null pointer deref on SSDB/PLD parsing warnings
When ipu_bridge_parse_rotation() and ipu_bridge_parse_orientation() run sensor->adev is not set yet.
So if either of the dev_warn() calls about unknown values are hit this will lead to a NULL pointer deref.
Set sensor->adev earlier, with a borrowed ref to avoid making unrolling on errors harder, to fix this.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-53336 represents a critical null pointer dereference issue within the Linux kernel's media subsystem, specifically affecting the ipu-bridge driver responsible for handling image processing unit bridge operations. This flaw exists in the sensor device parsing functionality where the driver attempts to process rotation and orientation parameters from sensor data structures. The issue manifests when the ipu_bridge_parse_rotation() and ipu_bridge_parse_orientation() functions execute before the sensor->adev member is properly initialized, creating a scenario where warning messages generated through dev_warn() calls can trigger a kernel panic due to dereferencing a null pointer reference. The root cause stems from improper initialization order within the driver's parsing logic, where essential device context information remains unset when warning conditions are evaluated. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-476 which describes null pointer dereference conditions in software systems, and represents a classic example of improper initialization leading to security-critical execution paths. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system stability concerns as it can result in complete system crashes or potential privilege escalation scenarios when exploited in kernel-space contexts. The fix implemented addresses this by reordering the initialization sequence to set sensor->adev earlier in the function execution flow, utilizing a borrowed reference approach to maintain proper resource management without complicating error handling paths. This solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting local privilege escalation opportunities through kernel vulnerabilities, and specifically targets the kernel exploit mitigation pathways outlined in the Linux kernel security framework. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor initialization order issues in kernel drivers can create significant security implications, particularly when warning mechanisms are involved in code paths that may be triggered by malformed input data or unexpected hardware states. The fix ensures that all device context information is properly established before any warning conditions are evaluated, preventing the null pointer dereference that would otherwise occur when sensor->adev remains uninitialized during warning message generation. This remediation approach follows best practices for kernel development by ensuring proper resource lifecycle management and preventing race conditions that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability underscores the importance of careful initialization ordering in kernel drivers and highlights how warning and error handling mechanisms must account for all possible execution states to prevent security-relevant crashes. System administrators should prioritize this patch as it addresses a fundamental kernel stability issue that could be leveraged in escalation attacks targeting embedded systems or devices utilizing the affected ipu-bridge driver components. The fix maintains backward compatibility while strengthening the kernel's resilience against malformed sensor data inputs and prevents potential denial of service scenarios that could compromise system availability in mission-critical deployments.