CVE-2023-54013 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 12/24/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
interconnect: Fix locking for runpm vs reclaim
For cases where icc_bw_set() can be called in callbaths that could deadlock against shrinker/reclaim, such as runpm resume, we need to decouple the icc locking. Introduce a new icc_bw_lock for cases where we need to serialize bw aggregation and update to decouple that from paths that require memory allocation such as node/link creation/ destruction.
Fixes this lockdep splat:
====================================================== WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected 6.2.0-rc8-debug+ #554 Not tainted ------------------------------------------------------ ring0/132 is trying to acquire lock: ffffff80871916d0 (&gmu->lock){+.+.}-{3:3}, at: a6xx_pm_resume+0xf0/0x234
but task is already holding lock: ffffffdb5aee57e8 (dma_fence_map){++++}-{0:0}, at: msm_job_run+0x68/0x150
which lock already depends on the new lock.
the existing dependency chain (in reverse order) is:
-> #4 (dma_fence_map){++++}-{0:0}:
__dma_fence_might_wait+0x74/0xc0 dma_resv_lockdep+0x1f4/0x2f4 do_one_initcall+0x104/0x2bc kernel_init_freeable+0x344/0x34c kernel_init+0x30/0x134 ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20
-> #3 (mmu_notifier_invalidate_range_start){+.+.}-{0:0}:
fs_reclaim_acquire+0x80/0xa8 slab_pre_alloc_hook.constprop.0+0x40/0x25c __kmem_cache_alloc_node+0x60/0x1cc __kmalloc+0xd8/0x100 topology_parse_cpu_capacity+0x8c/0x178 get_cpu_for_node+0x88/0xc4 parse_cluster+0x1b0/0x28c parse_cluster+0x8c/0x28c init_cpu_topology+0x168/0x188 smp_prepare_cpus+0x24/0xf8 kernel_init_freeable+0x18c/0x34c kernel_init+0x30/0x134 ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20
-> #2 (fs_reclaim){+.+.}-{0:0}:
__fs_reclaim_acquire+0x3c/0x48 fs_reclaim_acquire+0x54/0xa8 slab_pre_alloc_hook.constprop.0+0x40/0x25c __kmem_cache_alloc_node+0x60/0x1cc __kmalloc+0xd8/0x100 kzalloc.constprop.0+0x14/0x20 icc_node_create_nolock+0x4c/0xc4 icc_node_create+0x38/0x58 qcom_icc_rpmh_probe+0x1b8/0x248 platform_probe+0x70/0xc4 really_probe+0x158/0x290 __driver_probe_device+0xc8/0xe0 driver_probe_device+0x44/0x100 __driver_attach+0xf8/0x108 bus_for_each_dev+0x78/0xc4 driver_attach+0x2c/0x38 bus_add_driver+0xd0/0x1d8 driver_register+0xbc/0xf8 __platform_driver_register+0x30/0x3c qnoc_driver_init+0x24/0x30 do_one_initcall+0x104/0x2bc kernel_init_freeable+0x344/0x34c kernel_init+0x30/0x134 ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20
-> #1 (icc_lock){+.+.}-{3:3}:
__mutex_lock+0xcc/0x3c8 mutex_lock_nested+0x30/0x44 icc_set_bw+0x88/0x2b4 _set_opp_bw+0x8c/0xd8 _set_opp+0x19c/0x300 dev_pm_opp_set_opp+0x84/0x94 a6xx_gmu_resume+0x18c/0x804 a6xx_pm_resume+0xf8/0x234 adreno_runtime_resume+0x2c/0x38 pm_generic_runtime_resume+0x30/0x44 __rpm_callback+0x15c/0x174 rpm_callback+0x78/0x7c rpm_resume+0x318/0x524 __pm_runtime_resume+0x78/0xbc adreno_load_gpu+0xc4/0x17c msm_open+0x50/0x120 drm_file_alloc+0x17c/0x228 drm_open_helper+0x74/0x118 drm_open+0xa0/0x144 drm_stub_open+0xd4/0xe4 chrdev_open+0x1b8/0x1e4 do_dentry_open+0x2f8/0x38c vfs_open+0x34/0x40 path_openat+0x64c/0x7b4 do_filp_open+0x54/0xc4 do_sys_openat2+0x9c/0x100 do_sys_open+0x50/0x7c __arm64_sys_openat+0x28/0x34 invoke_syscall+0x8c/0x128 el0_svc_common.constprop.0+0xa0/0x11c do_el0_ ---truncated---
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2023-54013 addresses a critical locking issue within the Linux kernel's interconnect subsystem, specifically affecting the interaction between power management and memory reclaim operations. This flaw manifests as a potential deadlock condition that can occur during runtime power management (runpm) resume operations, where the system attempts to acquire locks in a circular dependency pattern. The root cause lies in the improper handling of locking mechanisms when icc_bw_set() is invoked during callback paths that may conflict with memory allocation operations required for shrinker/reclaim processes.
The technical flaw stems from the interconnect subsystem's inability to properly separate locking concerns when managing bandwidth aggregation updates versus memory allocation operations. During system initialization or power management transitions, the kernel's locking hierarchy becomes corrupted when attempting to acquire the icc_lock while already holding the dma_fence_map lock, creating a circular dependency that leads to system hangs. This condition is particularly dangerous because it can occur during critical system operations such as GPU resume sequences, where the system must maintain responsiveness while managing hardware resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system hangs, potentially leading to complete system lockups that require forced rebooting. The issue affects systems utilizing Qualcomm Snapdragon SoCs and other platforms where the interconnect framework is employed for bandwidth management between subsystems. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by triggering specific power management sequences that force the kernel into the problematic locking state, though such exploitation would likely require specific hardware configurations and system states.
The fix implemented addresses this issue by introducing a dedicated icc_bw_lock specifically designed to serialize bandwidth aggregation and updates, thereby decoupling these operations from paths that require memory allocation such as node and link creation or destruction. This architectural change follows established security principles for lock hierarchy management and aligns with common practices for avoiding circular dependencies in kernel code. The solution directly addresses the lockdep splat reported in the vulnerability description, which was a clear indicator of the problematic locking pattern that could lead to system instability.
This vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of kernel-level concurrency issues and the importance of proper lock ordering and separation of concerns in system-level software. The fix represents a typical approach to resolving such issues by creating specialized locks for specific use cases rather than relying on a single global lock for all operations. The implementation adheres to best practices for kernel development and security, reducing the attack surface while maintaining system functionality. From a compliance perspective, this fix helps ensure that systems meet security standards for concurrency control and resource management, particularly relevant for automotive, industrial, and embedded systems where reliability is paramount. The resolution also aligns with ATT&CK framework considerations for kernel-level attacks, as it prevents potential exploitation through system resource exhaustion or denial-of-service conditions that could arise from improper locking behavior.