Linux Kernel up to 6.2.2 alloc_ordered_workqueue null pointer dereference

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5.5	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.2.2. It has been classified as critical. This impacts the function alloc_ordered_workqueue. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2023-53223. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.2.2. Affected by this vulnerability is the function alloc_ordered_workqueue. 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. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/msm/dsi: Add missing check for alloc_ordered_workqueue Add check for the return value of alloc_ordered_workqueue as it may return NULL pointer and cause NULL pointer dereference. Patchwork: https://patchwork.freedesktop.org/patch/517646/

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2023-53223 since 09/15/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 265275 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53223), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.14.308, 4.19.276, 5.4.235, 5.10.173, 5.15.99, 6.1.16 or 6.2.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 3e18f157faeeb59034404569e8e07cbe1c0030a7/9257974858ee847b2e1fd552691b8ba5c2fc1c7b/3a9a4a9725c60f04326b5019a52ce15aee808506/540c66180afd59309a442d3bf1f2393464c8b4c5/5dfe7a5386fde5a656ca06602b31bf50e26954cd/25a6499b1a53d854eda2b161b5c8a20296515dbe/759ea5677c362fb1e3edc667260ba9f409dc931d/115906ca7b535afb1fe7b5406c566ccd3873f82b 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 (265275) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2053). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality 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

• 4.14.307
• 4.19.275
• 5.4.234
• 5.10.172
• 5.15.0
• 5.15.1
• 5.15.2
• 5.15.3
• 5.15.4
• 5.15.5
• 5.15.6
• 5.15.7
• 5.15.8
• 5.15.9
• 5.15.10
• 5.15.11
• 5.15.12
• 5.15.13
• 5.15.14
• 5.15.15
• 5.15.16
• 5.15.17
• 5.15.18
• 5.15.19
• 5.15.20
• 5.15.21
• 5.15.22
• 5.15.23
• 5.15.24
• 5.15.25
• 5.15.26
• 5.15.27
• 5.15.28
• 5.15.29
• 5.15.30
• 5.15.31
• 5.15.32
• 5.15.33
• 5.15.34
• 5.15.35
• 5.15.36
• 5.15.37
• 5.15.38
• 5.15.39
• 5.15.40
• 5.15.41
• 5.15.42
• 5.15.43
• 5.15.44
• 5.15.45
• 5.15.46
• 5.15.47
• 5.15.48
• 5.15.49
• 5.15.50
• 5.15.51
• 5.15.52
• 5.15.53
• 5.15.54
• 5.15.55
• 5.15.56
• 5.15.57
• 5.15.58
• 5.15.59
• 5.15.60
• 5.15.61
• 5.15.62
• 5.15.63
• 5.15.64
• 5.15.65
• 5.15.66
• 5.15.67
• 5.15.68
• 5.15.69
• 5.15.70
• 5.15.71
• 5.15.72
• 5.15.73
• 5.15.74
• 5.15.75
• 5.15.76
• 5.15.77
• 5.15.78
• 5.15.79
• 5.15.80
• 5.15.81
• 5.15.82
• 5.15.83
• 5.15.84
• 5.15.85
• 5.15.86
• 5.15.87
• 5.15.88
• 5.15.89
• 5.15.90
• 5.15.91
• 5.15.92
• 5.15.93
• 5.15.94
• 5.15.95
• 5.15.96
• 5.15.97
• 5.15.98
• 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
• 6.2.0
• 6.2.1
• 6.2.2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
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Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 265275
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53223

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 4.14.308/4.19.276/5.4.235/5.10.173/5.15.99/6.1.16/6.2.3
Patch: 3e18f157faeeb59034404569e8e07cbe1c0030a7/9257974858ee847b2e1fd552691b8ba5c2fc1c7b/3a9a4a9725c60f04326b5019a52ce15aee808506/540c66180afd59309a442d3bf1f2393464c8b4c5/5dfe7a5386fde5a656ca06602b31bf50e26954cd/25a6499b1a53d854eda2b161b5c8a20296515dbe/759ea5677c362fb1e3edc667260ba9f409dc931d/115906ca7b535afb1fe7b5406c566ccd3873f82b

Timelineinfo

09/15/2025 Advisory disclosed
09/15/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
09/15/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
01/11/2026 +118 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-53223 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-53223
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-324091
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2053 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 09/15/2025 18:20
Updated: 01/11/2026 01:02
Changes: 09/15/2025 18:20 (58), 09/18/2025 17:11 (2), 12/05/2025 11:25 (10), 12/29/2025 03:25 (7), 01/11/2026 01:02 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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Discussion

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