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CVE Record

CVE-2023-52703: net/usb: kalmia: Don't pass act_len in usb_bulk_msg error path

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/usb: kalmia: Don't pass act_len in usb_bulk_msg error path syzbot reported that act_len in kalmia_send_init_packet() is uninitialized when passing it to the first usb_bulk_msg error path. Jiri Pirko noted that it's pointless to pass it in the error path, and that the value that would be printed in the second error path would be the value of act_len from the first call to usb_bulk_msg.[1] With this in mind, let's just not pass act_len to the usb_bulk_msg error paths. 1: https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/Y9pY61y1nwTuzMOa@nanopsycho/

LowCVSS 3.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a low-severity Linux kernel issue in the kalmia USB network driver. A local low-privileged user could potentially trigger limited availability impact, but the source does not indicate data theft, integrity loss, remote exploitation, or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Handle through normal kernel patch management. Escalation is not justified unless affected systems are multi-user, sensitive, or allow untrusted local USB interaction.

Technical view

The flaw involves kalmia_send_init_packet() passing an uninitialized act_len value on usb_bulk_msg error paths. The kernel fix removes act_len from those error-path logs. CVSS is 3.3, local attack vector, low privileges required, and availability-only impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to Linux systems using or loading the kalmia USB network driver and running an affected kernel before the relevant stable fixes. Internet-facing exposure is not indicated by the source bundle.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not listed as KEV, and the provided sources do not report active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates local access with low privileges, no user interaction, and only low availability impact.

Researcher notes

Evidence points to an uninitialized variable use in an error path, fixed by avoiding act_len in those paths. The bundle provides stable kernel commits but no exploit report, CWE mapping, or downstream package matrix.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply the appropriate Linux kernel stable or distribution update containing the referenced fix.
  • Prioritize systems where untrusted local users can access USB networking functionality.
  • Check vendor or distribution advisories for exact fixed package versions.
  • Restrict unnecessary USB device access where operationally feasible.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and confirm whether kalmia support is present or loadable.
  • Compare deployed kernels against vendor advisories and referenced stable fix commits.
  • Check system logs for kalmia driver use on relevant hosts.
  • Confirm updated kernels are booted, not only installed.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
9

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2023-52703 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Low
CVSS
3.3 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
8Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
3.3CVSS 3.1LowCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L1.81.4CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

3.3Low
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2023-52703Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxd40261236e8e278cb1936cb5e934262971692b10, d40261236e8e278cb1936cb5e934262971692b10, d40261236e8e278cb1936cb5e934262971692b10, d40261236e8e278cb1936cb5e934262971692b10, d40261236e8e278cb1936cb5e934262971692b10, d40261236e8e278cb1936cb5e934262971692b10, d40261236e8e278cb1936cb5e934262971692b10unaffected
LinuxLinux3.0, 0, 4.14.306, 4.19.273, 5.4.232, 5.10.169, 5.15.95, 6.1.13, 6.2affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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