Linux Kernel up to 6.2.8 alloc_precpu null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.2.8 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function alloc_precpu. Performing a manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-53044. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.2.8. This affects the function alloc_precpu. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: dm stats: check for and propagate alloc_percpu failure Check alloc_precpu()'s return value and return an error from dm_stats_init() if it fails. Update alloc_dev() to fail if dm_stats_init() does. Otherwise, a NULL pointer dereference will occur in dm_stats_cleanup() even if dm-stats isn't being actively used.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2023-53044 since 04/16/2025. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 297598 (EulerOS 2.0 SP13 : kernel (EulerOS-SA-2026-1212)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.14.312, 4.19.280, 5.4.240, 5.10.177, 5.15.105, 6.1.22 or 6.2.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 2287d7b721471a3d58bcd829250336e3cdf1635e/0d96bd507ed7e7d565b6d53ebd3874686f123b2e/4a32a9a818a895671bd43e0c40351e60e4e9140b/c68f08cc745675a17894e1b4a5b5b9700ace6da4/443c9d522397511a4328dc2ec3c9c63c73049756/a42180dd361584816bfe15c137b665699b994d90/5b66e36a3efd24041b7374432bfa4dec2ff01e95/d3aa3e060c4a80827eb801fc448debc9daa7c46b 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 vulnerability database at Tenable (297598). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 4.14.311
• 4.19.279
• 5.4.239
• 5.10.176
• 5.15.104
• 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
• 6.2.0
• 6.2.1
• 6.2.2
• 6.2.3
• 6.2.4
• 6.2.5
• 6.2.6
• 6.2.7
• 6.2.8

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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Entryinfo

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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