CVE-2023-53789 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 12/09/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
iommu/amd: Improve page fault error reporting
If IOMMU domain for device group is not setup properly then we may hit IOMMU page fault. Current page fault handler assumes that domain is always setup and it will hit NULL pointer derefence (see below sample log).
Lets check whether domain is setup or not and log appropriate message.
Sample log: ---------- amdgpu 0000:00:01.0: amdgpu: SE 1, SH per SE 1, CU per SH 8, active_cu_number 6 BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000058 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page PGD 0 P4D 0 Oops: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI
CPU: 2 PID: 56 Comm: irq/24-AMD-Vi Not tainted 6.2.0-rc2+ #89 Hardware name: xxx RIP: 0010:report_iommu_fault+0x11/0x90 [...]
Call Trace: <TASK> amd_iommu_int_thread+0x60c/0x760 ? __pfx_irq_thread_fn+0x10/0x10 irq_thread_fn+0x1f/0x60 irq_thread+0xea/0x1a0 ? preempt_count_add+0x6a/0xa0 ? __pfx_irq_thread_dtor+0x10/0x10 ? __pfx_irq_thread+0x10/0x10 kthread+0xe9/0x110 ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 ret_from_fork+0x2c/0x50 </TASK>
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2023-53789 represents a critical null pointer dereference condition within the AMD IOMMU (Input-Output Memory Management Unit) subsystem of the Linux kernel. This flaw specifically affects the iommu/amd component where the page fault error reporting mechanism fails to properly validate whether an IOMMU domain has been correctly initialized for a device group before attempting to process page faults. The issue stems from the assumption that all domains are properly configured, leading to a kernel panic when the system encounters a page fault in an improperly set up domain environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests in the report_iommu_fault function which lacks proper domain validation checks before accessing domain-specific data structures. When a device group lacks proper IOMMU domain setup, the kernel attempts to dereference a null pointer at address 0x58, resulting in a kernel NULL pointer dereference panic. This condition occurs during interrupt handling within the amd_iommu_int_thread function, where the system processes IOMMU page faults without verifying domain existence. The error code 0x0000 indicates a not-present page fault, which is characteristic of memory access violations in virtual memory systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially compromise system stability and security in virtualized environments. When exploited, this vulnerability can lead to complete system hangs or reboots, particularly affecting graphics processing units and other hardware components that rely heavily on IOMMU functionality. The vulnerability affects systems using AMD-Vi (AMD Virtualization) technology and is particularly concerning for server and workstation environments where GPU acceleration and virtualization are prevalent. This flaw represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege as it allows for unauthorized memory access patterns that could potentially be leveraged by malicious actors to escalate privileges or cause denial of service conditions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, Null Pointer Dereference, which is a fundamental software security weakness that occurs when a program attempts to access a memory location through a null pointer reference. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of privilege escalation techniques, specifically under the T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation tactic, where an attacker might exploit kernel-level vulnerabilities to gain elevated system privileges. Additionally, the vulnerability relates to T1499 - Endpoint Denial of Service, as it can cause system instability and availability issues. The fix implemented addresses this by introducing proper domain setup validation before proceeding with fault reporting, which prevents the null pointer dereference and ensures appropriate error logging instead of system crashes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include applying the kernel patch that implements domain validation checks before page fault processing, ensuring that all IOMMU domain setups are properly initialized before device group assignment, and maintaining up-to-date kernel versions from trusted sources. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems, particularly those running virtualized environments or systems with GPU acceleration, as these environments are most susceptible to exploitation. The fix also emphasizes proper error handling and logging mechanisms, which should be monitored for potential security implications. Organizations using AMD-based systems with IOMMU enabled should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify systems running potentially affected kernel versions and implement comprehensive monitoring for system stability issues that might indicate exploitation attempts.