Linux Kernel up to 6.1.29/6.3.3 ACPI devm_kzalloc null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.29/6.3.3. It has been classified as critical. This impacts the function devm_kzalloc of the component ACPI. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2023-53483. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.29/6.3.3. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function devm_kzalloc of the component ACPI. 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. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ACPI: processor: Check for null return of devm_kzalloc() in fch_misc_setup() devm_kzalloc() may fail, clk_data->name might be NULL and will cause a NULL pointer dereference later. [ rjw: Subject and changelog edits ]

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2023-53483 since 10/01/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

Upgrading to version 6.1.30 or 6.3.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 79ca94bc3e8cc3befa883c7d30b30a27ef0ea386/8a632ff6a2bea49993002b4c46092a2aea625840/4dea41775d951ff1f7b472a346a8ca3ae7e74455 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). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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

• 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
• 6.3.0
• 6.3.1
• 6.3.2
• 6.3.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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CPE 2.2info

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Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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