Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-52443 is a Linux kernel AppArmor bug where a malformed profile name can trigger a kernel crash during profile replacement. The business impact is denial of service on systems using AppArmor, not data theft. Sources do not show active exploitation or a CVSS score.
Executive priority
Prioritize normal kernel patching for AppArmor-enabled servers, especially multi-user or managed-hosting environments. Escalate only if internal systems allow less-trusted users or automation to submit AppArmor profiles.
Technical view
AppArmor unpack_profile() can pass an empty parsed profile name to aa_alloc_profile() after aa_splitn_fqname() treats a string like ':name' as namespace-only. This causes a NULL pointer dereference in strlen() during profile replacement. The fix rejects the profile set replacement with EPROTO instead of crashing.
Likely exposure
Most relevant to Linux systems with AppArmor enabled and vulnerable or unpatched kernel builds. Practical exposure appears limited to actors or processes able to load or replace AppArmor profiles, which is usually privileged administrative activity.
Exploitation context
The source describes a crash reachable from userspace through AppArmor profile parsing, but gives no evidence of in-the-wild exploitation. It is not listed as CISA KEV in the provided bundle. Treat it as a local denial-of-service risk unless vendor guidance says otherwise.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a kernel crash during profile replacement, not privilege escalation or remote code execution. The affected-version data is incomplete in the bundle, so rely on distribution kernel advisories and stable commit backports for exact exposure mapping.
Mitigation direction
- Apply vendor kernel updates that include the AppArmor fix.
- Review Debian LTS and distribution advisories for backported kernel packages.
- Restrict AppArmor profile loading and replacement to trusted administrative paths.
- Do not process untrusted AppArmor profile bundles on vulnerable systems.
- If patch status is unclear, check current vendor guidance.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux hosts where AppArmor is enabled.
- Confirm kernel package versions include vendor backports or upstream stable fixes.
- Check kernel logs for AppArmor-related general protection faults or NULL dereferences.
- Review who or what can run apparmor_parser or replace profiles.
- Test updated kernels in staging with normal AppArmor profile workflows.
Public sources used
- CVE Program
- CVE List V5
- Linux stable commit 9286ee97
- Linux stable commit 1d8e62b5
- Linux stable commit 5ff00408
- Linux stable commit 0a12db73
- Linux stable commit 9d4fa5fe
- Linux stable commit 5c0392fd
- Linux stable commit 77ab09b9
- Linux stable commit 55a8210c
- Debian LTS advisory DLA June 2024 00016
- Debian LTS advisory DLA June 2024 00020
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CVE-2023-52443 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9286ee97aa4803d99185768735011d0d65827c9eCVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1d8e62b5569cc1466ceb8a7e4872cf10160a9dcfCVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5ff00408e5029d3550ee77f62dc15f1e15c47f87CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0a12db736edbb4933e4274932aeea594b5876fa4CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9d4fa5fe2b1d56662afd14915a73b4d0783ffa45CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5c0392fdafb0a2321311900be83ffa572bef8203CVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/77ab09b92f16c8439a948d1af489196953dc4a0eCVE reference
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/55a8210c9e7d21ff2644809699765796d4bfb200CVE reference
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/06/msg00016.htmlCVE reference · x_transferred
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/06/msg00020.htmlCVE reference · x_transferred
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.