Linux Kernel up to 6.1.52/6.4.15/6.5.2 raid5-cache r5l_flush_stripe_to_raid null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.52/6.4.15/6.5.2. Affected by this issue is the function r5l_flush_stripe_to_raid of the component raid5-cache. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2023-53210. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.52/6.4.15/6.5.2. This vulnerability affects the function r5l_flush_stripe_to_raid of the component raid5-cache. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is 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. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: md/raid5-cache: fix null-ptr-deref for r5l_flush_stripe_to_raid() r5l_flush_stripe_to_raid() will check if the list 'flushing_ios' is empty, and then submit 'flush_bio', however, r5l_log_flush_endio() is clearing the list first and then clear the bio, which will cause null-ptr-deref: T1: submit flush io raid5d handle_active_stripes r5l_flush_stripe_to_raid // list is empty // add 'io_end_ios' to the list bio_init submit_bio // io1 T2: io1 is done r5l_log_flush_endio list_splice_tail_init // clear the list T3: submit new flush io ... r5l_flush_stripe_to_raid // list is empty // add 'io_end_ios' to the list bio_init bio_uninit // clear bio->bi_blkg submit_bio // null-ptr-deref Fix this problem by clearing bio before clearing the list in r5l_log_flush_endio().

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-53210 since 09/15/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.1.53, 6.4.16 or 6.5.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 711fb92606208a8626b785da4f9f23d648a5b6c8/7a8b6d93991bf4b72b3f959baea35397c6c8e521/e46b2e7be8059d156af8c011dd8d665229b65886/0d0bd28c500173bfca78aa840f8f36d261ef1765 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 CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2053). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• SUSE openSUSE
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• F5 F5OS

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 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
• 6.4.0
• 6.4.1
• 6.4.2
• 6.4.3
• 6.4.4
• 6.4.5
• 6.4.6
• 6.4.7
• 6.4.8
• 6.4.9
• 6.4.10
• 6.4.11
• 6.4.12
• 6.4.13
• 6.4.14
• 6.4.15
• 6.5.0
• 6.5.1
• 6.5.2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

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Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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