Linux Kernel up to 6.1.15/6.2.2 f2fs __submit_merged_write_cond null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.15/6.2.2. Affected is the function __submit_merged_write_cond of the component f2fs. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2023-53301. No exploit exists. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.15/6.2.2. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function __submit_merged_write_cond of the component f2fs. 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: f2fs: fix kernel crash due to null io->bio We should return when io->bio is null before doing anything. Otherwise, panic. BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000010 RIP: 0010:__submit_merged_write_cond+0x164/0x240 [f2fs] Call Trace: <TASK> f2fs_submit_merged_write+0x1d/0x30 [f2fs] commit_checkpoint+0x110/0x1e0 [f2fs] f2fs_write_checkpoint+0x9f7/0xf00 [f2fs] ? __pfx_issue_checkpoint_thread+0x10/0x10 [f2fs] __checkpoint_and_complete_reqs+0x84/0x190 [f2fs] ? preempt_count_add+0x82/0xc0 ? __pfx_issue_checkpoint_thread+0x10/0x10 [f2fs] issue_checkpoint_thread+0x4c/0xf0 [f2fs] ? __pfx_autoremove_wake_function+0x10/0x10 kthread+0xff/0x130 ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 ret_from_fork+0x2c/0x50 </TASK>

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2023-53301 since 09/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 265660 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53301), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.16 or 6.2.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 83dbb9a1bd5ef2eea73275906fc50b2fdda39cd5/eb52f13c6093ac761dbeaa459c810fc0253209fc/267c159f9c7bcb7009dae16889b880c5ed8759a8 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 (265660) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2053). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality 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
• 6.2.0
• 6.2.1
• 6.2.2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

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