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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53319: KVM: arm64: Handle kvm_arm_init failure correctly in finalize_pkvm

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: arm64: Handle kvm_arm_init failure correctly in finalize_pkvm Currently there is no synchronisation between finalize_pkvm() and kvm_arm_init() initcalls. The finalize_pkvm() proceeds happily even if kvm_arm_init() fails resulting in the following warning on all the CPUs and eventually a HYP panic: | kvm [1]: IPA Size Limit: 48 bits | kvm [1]: Failed to init hyp memory protection | kvm [1]: error initializing Hyp mode: -22 | | <snip> | | WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 0 at arch/arm64/kvm/pkvm.c:226 _kvm_host_prot_finalize+0x30/0x50 | Modules linked in: | CPU: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper/0 Not tainted 6.4.0 #237 | Hardware name: FVP Base RevC (DT) | pstate: 634020c5 (nZCv daIF +PAN -UAO +TCO +DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) | pc : _kvm_host_prot_finalize+0x30/0x50 | lr : __flush_smp_call_function_queue+0xd8/0x230 | | Call trace: | _kvm_host_prot_finalize+0x3c/0x50 | on_each_cpu_cond_mask+0x3c/0x6c | pkvm_drop_host_privileges+0x4c/0x78 | finalize_pkvm+0x3c/0x5c | do_one_initcall+0xcc/0x240 | do_initcall_level+0x8c/0xac | do_initcalls+0x54/0x94 | do_basic_setup+0x1c/0x28 | kernel_init_freeable+0x100/0x16c | kernel_init+0x20/0x1a0 | ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 | Failed to finalize Hyp protection: -22 | dtb=fvp-base-revc.dtb | kvm [95]: nVHE hyp BUG at: arch/arm64/kvm/hyp/nvhe/mem_protect.c:540! | kvm [95]: nVHE call trace: | kvm [95]: [<ffff800081052984>] __kvm_nvhe_hyp_panic+0xac/0xf8 | kvm [95]: [<ffff800081059644>] __kvm_nvhe_handle_host_mem_abort+0x1a0/0x2ac | kvm [95]: [<ffff80008105511c>] __kvm_nvhe_handle_trap+0x4c/0x160 | kvm [95]: [<ffff8000810540fc>] __kvm_nvhe___skip_pauth_save+0x4/0x4 | kvm [95]: ---[ end nVHE call trace ]--- | kvm [95]: Hyp Offset: 0xfffe8db00ffa0000 | Kernel panic - not syncing: HYP panic: | PS:a34023c9 PC:0000f250710b973c ESR:00000000f2000800 | FAR:ffff000800cb00d0 HPFAR:000000000880cb00 PAR:0000000000000000 | VCPU:0000000000000000 | CPU: 3 PID: 95 Comm: kworker/u16:2 Tainted: G W 6.4.0 #237 | Hardware name: FVP Base RevC (DT) | Workqueue: rpciod rpc_async_schedule | Call trace: | dump_backtrace+0xec/0x108 | show_stack+0x18/0x2c | dump_stack_lvl+0x50/0x68 | dump_stack+0x18/0x24 | panic+0x138/0x33c | nvhe_hyp_panic_handler+0x100/0x184 | new_slab+0x23c/0x54c | ___slab_alloc+0x3e4/0x770 | kmem_cache_alloc_node+0x1f0/0x278 | __alloc_skb+0xdc/0x294 | tcp_stream_alloc_skb+0x2c/0xf0 | tcp_sendmsg_locked+0x3d0/0xda4 | tcp_sendmsg+0x38/0x5c | inet_sendmsg+0x44/0x60 | sock_sendmsg+0x1c/0x34 | xprt_sock_sendmsg+0xdc/0x274 | xs_tcp_send_request+0x1ac/0x28c | xprt_transmit+0xcc/0x300 | call_transmit+0x78/0x90 | __rpc_execute+0x114/0x3d8 | rpc_async_schedule+0x28/0x48 | process_one_work+0x1d8/0x314 | worker_thread+0x248/0x474 | kthread+0xfc/0x184 | ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 | SMP: stopping secondary CPUs | Kernel Offset: 0x57c5cb460000 from 0xffff800080000000 | PHYS_OFFSET: 0x80000000 | CPU features: 0x00000000,1035b7a3,ccfe773f | Memory Limit: none | ---[ end Kernel panic - not syncing: HYP panic: | PS:a34023c9 PC:0000f250710b973c ESR:00000000f2000800 | FAR:ffff000800cb00d0 HPFAR:000000000880cb00 PAR:0000000000000000 | VCPU:0000000000000000 ]--- Fix it by checking for the successfull initialisation of kvm_arm_init() in finalize_pkvm() before proceeding any futher.

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue can crash affected ARM64 systems when KVM protected virtualization initialization fails but later finalization still runs. The main business impact is availability loss, not data theft. Evidence points to local, low-privilege access and no confirmed active exploitation in the provided sources.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate availability risk for ARM64 virtualization infrastructure. It is not described as remotely exploitable, but a crash in shared compute or production virtualization hosts can create operational disruption. Patch through normal kernel update channels with higher priority for exposed multi-tenant or developer-accessible systems.

Technical view

The flaw is in arm64 KVM pKVM initialization ordering. finalize_pkvm() could proceed after kvm_arm_init() failed because there was no synchronization or success check, leading to warnings and eventual nVHE HYP panic. The fix checks successful kvm_arm_init() before finalizing pKVM host protection.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant to Linux ARM64 systems using KVM protected virtualization or nVHE paths on affected kernel versions listed in the source bundle, including 6.4, 6.4.8, and 6.5. Non-ARM64 systems and systems without this KVM path appear less likely to be exposed based on the provided description.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, with high availability impact. The source bundle does not report public exploitation, and KEV status is false. The available evidence supports a denial-of-service scenario through kernel or hypervisor panic, not confidentiality or integrity compromise.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Linux stable references. The affected-version data is sparse and should be reconciled against distribution advisories. Focus validation on whether downstream kernels carry the kvm_arm_init success-check fix in finalize_pkvm(), rather than relying only on upstream version strings.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor Linux kernel updates that include the referenced stable fixes.
  • Inventory ARM64 KVM hosts running affected kernel versions.
  • Prioritize multi-user, virtualization, and workload-hosting systems where local access is available.
  • If patching is delayed, check vendor guidance for supported temporary controls.
  • Monitor for KVM HYP panic or pKVM initialization failure messages.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm host architecture, kernel version, and KVM/pKVM usage.
  • Verify installed kernel contains the referenced stable commits or vendor backports.
  • Review boot and kernel logs for pKVM initialization failures.
  • Check vulnerability management tooling against CVE-2023-53319 after updating.
  • Confirm no unsupported direct deployment path is used for remediation.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

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-2023-53319 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.5 (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:H

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
1ADP providers
3Source 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
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

5.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2023-53319Attack 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:H

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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux87727ba2bb05cc3cb4233231faa7ab4c7eeb6c73, 87727ba2bb05cc3cb4233231faa7ab4c7eeb6c73unaffected
LinuxLinux6.4, 0, 6.4.8, 6.5affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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