CVE-2023-54150 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 12/24/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/amd: Fix an out of bounds error in BIOS parser
The array is hardcoded to 8 in atomfirmware.h, but firmware provides a bigger one sometimes. Deferencing the larger array causes an out of bounds error.
commit 4fc1ba4aa589 ("drm/amd/display: fix array index out of bound error in bios parser") fixed some of this, but there are two other cases not covered by it. Fix those as well.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2023-54150 represents a critical out-of-bounds memory access issue within the Linux kernel's AMD display driver subsystem, specifically affecting the DRM (Direct Rendering Manager) component responsible for graphics hardware management. This flaw exists in the BIOS parser functionality that processes firmware data for AMD display controllers, creating a potential pathway for arbitrary code execution or system instability when processing malformed firmware inputs.
The technical root cause stems from a hardcoded array size limitation of eight elements defined in the atomfirmware.h header file, while actual firmware implementations may provide arrays containing more elements than this fixed limit allows. When the driver attempts to access array elements beyond the hardcoded boundary, it triggers an out-of-bounds memory access error that can result in memory corruption, system crashes, or potentially exploitable conditions. The initial fix in commit 4fc1ba4aa589 addressed some instances of this issue but left two additional scenarios uncovered, making the vulnerability persistent across multiple code paths within the same subsystem.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-129, which describes "Improper Validation of Array Index" and falls under the broader category of memory safety issues in kernel space operations. The operational impact of this flaw extends beyond simple system crashes, as it can enable privilege escalation attacks where malicious actors could potentially leverage the out-of-bounds access to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. The vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernels with AMD graphics hardware, particularly those utilizing the AMD display driver components that process BIOS firmware data for display controller initialization and configuration.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is primarily limited to systems with AMD graphics hardware that process BIOS firmware data during system initialization or display configuration changes. However, the potential for exploitation increases when attackers can influence the firmware data being parsed or when the system is running in environments where firmware updates or modifications are possible. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting local privileges to gain elevated system access through kernel-level memory corruption vulnerabilities. Mitigation strategies should include immediate kernel updates addressing the specific commit fixes, along with monitoring for unusual system behavior or crashes during display initialization phases. System administrators should prioritize patching this vulnerability as it represents a significant risk to system integrity and security, particularly in environments where untrusted firmware sources or modified display configurations are possible.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the challenges in maintaining memory safety within complex kernel subsystems where hardware-specific firmware parsing routines must handle variable data structures while maintaining strict bounds checking. This issue underscores the importance of comprehensive testing for edge cases in firmware parsing code and demonstrates how seemingly minor array size limitations can create significant security risks in kernel space operations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for robust input validation and bounds checking in all kernel drivers, especially those handling hardware-specific data structures that may vary across different device implementations or firmware versions.