Linux Kernel up to 6.6.1 wmi_char_open memory corruption

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.1 and classified as critical. This issue affects the function wmi_char_open. This manipulation causes memory corruption. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2023-52864. No exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.1. Affected by this vulnerability is the function wmi_char_open. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: platform/x86: wmi: Fix opening of char device Since commit fa1f68db6ca7 ("drivers: misc: pass miscdevice pointer via file private data"), the miscdevice stores a pointer to itself inside filp->private_data, which means that private_data will not be NULL when wmi_char_open() is called. This might cause memory corruption should wmi_char_open() be unable to find its driver, something which can happen when the associated WMI device is deleted in wmi_free_devices(). Fix the problem by using the miscdevice pointer to retrieve the WMI device data associated with a char device using container_of(). This also avoids wmi_char_open() picking a wrong WMI device bound to a driver with the same name as the original driver.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2023-52864. The exploitation appears to be easy. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 207689 (RHEL 8 : kernel (RHSA-2024:6993)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.19.299, 5.4.261, 5.10.201, 5.15.139, 6.1.63, 6.5.12 or 6.6.2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch cf098e937dd1/9fb0eed09e14/d426a2955e45/e0bf076b734a/44a96796d258/36d85fa7ae0d/fb7b06b59c68/eba9ac7abab9 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (207689) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1293). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Ubuntu Linux
• IBM DataPower Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 4.19.298
• 5.0
• 5.1
• 5.2
• 5.3
• 5.4
• 5.4.260
• 5.5
• 5.6
• 5.7
• 5.8
• 5.9
• 5.10.200
• 5.15.138
• 6.1.0
• 6.1.1
• 6.1.2
• 6.1.3
• 6.1.4
• 6.1.5
• 6.1.6
• 6.1.7
• 6.1.8
• 6.1.9
• 6.1.10
• 6.1.11
• 6.1.12
• 6.1.13
• 6.1.14
• 6.1.15
• 6.1.16
• 6.1.17
• 6.1.18
• 6.1.19
• 6.1.20
• 6.1.21
• 6.1.22
• 6.1.23
• 6.1.24
• 6.1.25
• 6.1.26
• 6.1.27
• 6.1.28
• 6.1.29
• 6.1.30
• 6.1.31
• 6.1.32
• 6.1.33
• 6.1.34
• 6.1.35
• 6.1.36
• 6.1.37
• 6.1.38
• 6.1.39
• 6.1.40
• 6.1.41
• 6.1.42
• 6.1.43
• 6.1.44
• 6.1.45
• 6.1.46
• 6.1.47
• 6.1.48
• 6.1.49
• 6.1.50
• 6.1.51
• 6.1.52
• 6.1.53
• 6.1.54
• 6.1.55
• 6.1.56
• 6.1.57
• 6.1.58
• 6.1.59
• 6.1.60
• 6.1.61
• 6.1.62
• 6.5.0
• 6.5.1
• 6.5.2
• 6.5.3
• 6.5.4
• 6.5.5
• 6.5.6
• 6.5.7
• 6.5.8
• 6.5.9
• 6.5.10
• 6.5.11
• 6.6.0
• 6.6.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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