Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel flaw can let a local low-privileged user or process crash an affected system by hitting a USB gadget serial race. It does not indicate data theft or privilege escalation, but it can cause high availability impact where the vulnerable code is reachable.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate availability risk. It is not currently evidenced as exploited or remote, but systems relying on Linux USB gadget serial should be patched through normal kernel maintenance with priority over low-impact hygiene updates.
Technical view
CVE-2023-53356 is a CWE-476 null pointer dereference in Linux USB gadget u_serial. If gserial_disconnect clears gser->ioport before gserial_suspend later uses it, the kernel can dereference null. The fix adds a null check and static spinlock protection.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems using or enabling USB gadget serial functionality. The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privilege, no user interaction, with availability-only impact. General-purpose servers without reachable USB gadget serial paths are likely lower risk.
Exploitation context
The provided bundle does not show active exploitation, and KEV is false. Evidence supports a local denial-of-service condition, not remote compromise. No public exploit status is cited in the supplied sources.
Researcher notes
The source bundle ties the issue to a race between disconnect and suspend handling in u_serial. Affected-version evidence is limited to CVE metadata and stable commit references, so distribution backport status must be validated with the relevant vendor.
Mitigation direction
- Apply vendor kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Prioritize Linux hosts using USB gadget serial functionality.
- If patching is delayed, reduce local access to affected systems.
- Check vendor guidance for branch-specific fixed kernel versions.
- Monitor for kernel oops or panic events involving u_serial.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected assets.
- Identify systems with USB gadget serial code enabled or reachable.
- Confirm installed kernels include the relevant stable fix commit.
- Review crash logs for u_serial or gserial_suspend null dereferences.
- Track vendor advisories for distribution-specific backports.
Public sources used
- CVE Program
- CVE List V5
- Linux stable commit 2788a3553f7497075653210b42e2aeb6ba95e28e
- Linux stable commit a8ea7ed644cbf6314b5b0136b5398754b549fb8f
- Linux stable commit e60a827ac074ce6bd58305fe5a86afab5fce6a04
- Linux stable commit 374447e3367767156405bedd230c5d391f4b7962
- Linux stable commit 2f6ecb89fe8feb2b60a53325b0eeb9866d88909a
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-476: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-53356 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
- 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
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2788a3553f7497075653210b42e2aeb6ba95e28eCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8ea7ed644cbf6314b5b0136b5398754b549fb8fCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e60a827ac074ce6bd58305fe5a86afab5fce6a04CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/374447e3367767156405bedd230c5d391f4b7962CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2f6ecb89fe8feb2b60a53325b0eeb9866d88909aCVE reference, Linux
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.
NULL Pointer Dereference
NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.