Linux Kernel up to 6.5.3 devm_pwmchip_add null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.5.3. The affected element is the function devm_pwmchip_add. Such manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2023-53472. No exploit exists. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.5.3 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function devm_pwmchip_add. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. Impacted is availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pwm: lpc32xx: Remove handling of PWM channels Because LPC32xx PWM controllers have only a single output which is registered as the only PWM device/channel per controller, it is known in advance that pwm->hwpwm value is always 0. On basis of this fact simplify the code by removing operations with pwm->hwpwm, there is no controls which require channel number as input. Even though I wasn't aware at the time when I forward ported that patch, this fixes a null pointer dereference as lpc32xx->chip.pwms is NULL before devm_pwmchip_add() is called.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2023-53472 since 10/01/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 4.14.326, 4.19.295, 5.4.257, 5.10.195, 5.15.132, 6.1.54 or 6.5.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch abd9b2ee4047ccd980decbf26d61f9637604b1d5/a9a505f5b39d8fff1a55963a5e524c84639e98b2/04301da4d87067a989f70ee56942bf9d97cd2a45/a2d9d884e84bfd37892219b1f55847f36d8e9901/5e22217c11424ef958ba28d03ff7167b4d7a8914/523f6268e86552a048975749251184c4e9a4b38f/e3a0ddbaf7f1f9ffc070718b417461ced3268758/4aae44f65827f0213a7361cf9c32cfe06114473f 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-2025-2187). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 4.14.325
• 4.19.294
• 5.4.256
• 5.10.194
• 5.15.131
• 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
• 6.5.0
• 6.5.1
• 6.5.2
• 6.5.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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