Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2023-53599)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2023-53599). 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:
crypto: af_alg - Fix missing initialisation affecting gcm-aes-s390
Fix af_alg_alloc_areq() to initialise areq->first_rsgl.sgl.sgt.sgl to point
to the scatterlist array in areq->first_rsgl.sgl.sgl.
Without this, the gcm-aes-s390 driver will oops when it tries to do
gcm_walk_start() on req->dst because req->dst is set to the value of
areq->first_rsgl.sgl.sgl by _aead_recvmsg() calling
aead_request_set_crypt().
The problem comes if an empty ciphertext is passed: the loop in
af_alg_get_rsgl() just passes straight out and doesn't set areq->first_rsgl
up.
This isn't a problem on x86_64 using gcmaes_crypt_by_sg() because, as far
as I can tell, that ignores req->dst and only uses req->src[*].
[*] Is this a bug in aesni-intel_glue.c?
The s390x oops looks something like:
Unable to handle kernel pointer dereference in virtual kernel address space
Failing address: 0000000a00000000 TEID: 0000000a00000803
Fault in home space mode while using kernel ASCE.
AS:00000000a43a0007 R3:0000000000000024
Oops: 003b ilc:2 [#1] SMP
...
Call Trace:
[<000003ff7fc3d47e>] gcm_walk_start+0x16/0x28 [aes_s390]
[<00000000a2a342f2>] crypto_aead_decrypt+0x9a/0xb8
[<00000000a2a60888>] aead_recvmsg+0x478/0x698
[<00000000a2e519a0>] sock_recvmsg+0x70/0xb0
[<00000000a2e51a56>] sock_read_iter+0x76/0xa0
[<00000000a273e066>] vfs_read+0x26e/0x2a8
[<00000000a273e8c4>] ksys_read+0xbc/0x100
[<00000000a311d808>] __do_syscall+0x…
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-2023-53599 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 7.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2023-53599" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2023-53599 (Linux kernel) — CWE-476 / CVSS v3 7.8
Attack vector: local / 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-476) exists in Linux kernel.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.8/10). 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-2023-53599 linux Fixed in: 6.5.3-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53599 linux-hwe-edge
References
- advisory github.com
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- package git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org