Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2023-52478)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2023-52478). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
HID: logitech-hidpp: Fix kernel crash on receiver USB disconnect
hidpp_connect_event() has four time-of-check vs time-of-use (TOCTOU)
races when it races with itself.
hidpp_connect_event() primarily runs from a workqueue but it also runs
on probe() and if a "device-connected" packet is received by the hw
when the thread running hidpp_connect_event() from probe() is waiting on
the hw, then a second thread running hidpp_connect_event() will be
started from the workqueue.
This opens the following races (note the below code is simplified):
-
Retrieving + printing the protocol (harmless race):
if (!hidpp->protocol_major) {
hidpp_root_get_protocol_version()
hidpp->protocol_major = response.rap.params[0];
}
We can actually see this race hit in the dmesg in the abrt output
attached to rhbz#2227968:
[ 3064.624215] logitech-hidpp-device 0003:046D:4071.0049: HID++ 4.5 device connected.
[ 3064.658184] logitech-hidpp-device 0003:046D:4071.0049: HID++ 4.5 device connected.
Testing with extra logging added has shown that after this the 2 threads
take turn grabbing the hw access mutex (send_mutex) so they ping-pong
through all the other TOCTOU cases managing to hit all of them:
-
Updating the name to the HIDPP name (harmless race):
if (hidpp->name == hdev->name) {
...
hidpp->name = new_name;
} -
Initializing the power_supply class for the battery (problematic!):
hidpp_initialize_battery()
{…
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2023-52478 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 8.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2023-52478" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2023-52478 (Linux kernel) — CWE-367 / CVSS v3 8.8
Attack vector: adjacent-network / unauthenticated / no user interaction
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
A vulnerability (CWE-367) exists in Linux kernel.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.
Severity: High (CVSS 8.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Audit SBOM/dependencies to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
Audit SBOM/dependencies for affected components.資産台帳・SBOM・依存マニフェストで Linux kernel を使っているサービスとバージョンを洗い出す。
-
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Affected packages
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2023-52478 linux Fixed in: 5.10.205-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2023-52478 linux
References
- advisory github.com
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- package git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org