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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53393: RDMA/mlx5: Fix mlx5_ib_get_hw_stats when used for device

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: RDMA/mlx5: Fix mlx5_ib_get_hw_stats when used for device Currently, when mlx5_ib_get_hw_stats() is used for device (port_num = 0), there is a special handling in order to use the correct counters, but, port_num is being passed down the stack without any change. Also, some functions assume that port_num >=1. As a result, the following oops can occur. BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: ffff89510294f1a8 #PF: supervisor write access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0002) - not-present page PGD 0 P4D 0 Oops: 0002 [#1] SMP CPU: 8 PID: 1382 Comm: devlink Tainted: G W 6.1.0-rc4_for_upstream_base_2022_11_10_16_12 #1 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS rel-1.13.0-0-gf21b5a4aeb02-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:_raw_spin_lock+0xc/0x20 Call Trace: <TASK> mlx5_ib_get_native_port_mdev+0x73/0xe0 [mlx5_ib] do_get_hw_stats.constprop.0+0x109/0x160 [mlx5_ib] mlx5_ib_get_hw_stats+0xad/0x180 [mlx5_ib] ib_setup_device_attrs+0xf0/0x290 [ib_core] ib_register_device+0x3bb/0x510 [ib_core] ? atomic_notifier_chain_register+0x67/0x80 __mlx5_ib_add+0x2b/0x80 [mlx5_ib] mlx5r_probe+0xb8/0x150 [mlx5_ib] ? auxiliary_match_id+0x6a/0x90 auxiliary_bus_probe+0x3c/0x70 ? driver_sysfs_add+0x6b/0x90 really_probe+0xcd/0x380 __driver_probe_device+0x80/0x170 driver_probe_device+0x1e/0x90 __device_attach_driver+0x7d/0x100 ? driver_allows_async_probing+0x60/0x60 ? driver_allows_async_probing+0x60/0x60 bus_for_each_drv+0x7b/0xc0 __device_attach+0xbc/0x200 bus_probe_device+0x87/0xa0 device_add+0x404/0x940 ? dev_set_name+0x53/0x70 __auxiliary_device_add+0x43/0x60 add_adev+0x99/0xe0 [mlx5_core] mlx5_attach_device+0xc8/0x120 [mlx5_core] mlx5_load_one_devl_locked+0xb2/0xe0 [mlx5_core] devlink_reload+0x133/0x250 devlink_nl_cmd_reload+0x480/0x570 ? devlink_nl_pre_doit+0x44/0x2b0 genl_family_rcv_msg_doit.isra.0+0xc2/0x110 genl_rcv_msg+0x180/0x2b0 ? devlink_nl_cmd_region_read_dumpit+0x540/0x540 ? devlink_reload+0x250/0x250 ? devlink_put+0x50/0x50 ? genl_family_rcv_msg_doit.isra.0+0x110/0x110 netlink_rcv_skb+0x54/0x100 genl_rcv+0x24/0x40 netlink_unicast+0x1f6/0x2c0 netlink_sendmsg+0x237/0x490 sock_sendmsg+0x33/0x40 __sys_sendto+0x103/0x160 ? handle_mm_fault+0x10e/0x290 ? do_user_addr_fault+0x1c0/0x5f0 __x64_sys_sendto+0x25/0x30 do_syscall_64+0x3d/0x90 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x46/0xb0 Fix it by setting port_num to 1 in order to get device status and remove unused variable.

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-53393 is a Linux kernel availability bug in the RDMA mlx5 driver path. A local, low-privileged user may be able to trigger a kernel crash when hardware statistics are requested for a device rather than a port. The impact is service disruption, not data theft or data modification.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate operational resilience issue. It is most relevant to Linux infrastructure using mlx5 RDMA capabilities, where a local user could cause downtime. Patch through normal kernel maintenance, with higher priority for shared compute, HPC, storage, or network-heavy hosts.

Technical view

The issue is in mlx5_ib_get_hw_stats() handling of port_num = 0. That value is passed deeper into functions that assume port_num >= 1, leading to a kernel page fault/oops. The resolved change sets port_num to 1 for device status handling and removes an unused variable.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to affected Linux kernels using the RDMA mlx5 path, especially hosts with mlx5_ib or mlx5_core loaded. CVSS indicates local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high availability impact.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not cite active exploitation, and KEV is false. The provided stack trace shows a crash during devlink/RDMA device registration or reload handling. No public exploit evidence is included in the provided sources.

Researcher notes

The evidence supports an availability-only kernel crash from incorrect port_num handling in RDMA/mlx5 statistics code. The bundle provides fix references but no CWE, exploit report, or distribution-specific advisory. Validate exposure by kernel lineage and whether the mlx5 RDMA stack is present.

Mitigation direction

  • Update affected Linux kernels to versions containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize RDMA or mlx5-enabled servers where local users or tenants have access.
  • Check distribution vendor advisories for packaged kernel update availability.
  • Restrict unnecessary local access on systems pending kernel updates.
  • Monitor for kernel oops events involving mlx5_ib_get_hw_stats or mlx5 RDMA paths.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions against the affected and fixed ranges in vendor guidance.
  • Identify hosts loading mlx5_ib or mlx5_core RDMA driver components.
  • Review kernel logs for oops traces mentioning mlx5_ib_get_hw_stats.
  • Confirm updated kernels include one of the referenced stable commits.
  • Verify RDMA device status collection remains stable after patching.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
6

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-2023-53393 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
5Source 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-2023-53393Attack 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
LinuxLinuxaac4492ef23a176b6f1a41aadb99177eceb1fc06, aac4492ef23a176b6f1a41aadb99177eceb1fc06, aac4492ef23a176b6f1a41aadb99177eceb1fc06, aac4492ef23a176b6f1a41aadb99177eceb1fc06unaffected
LinuxLinux4.16, 0, 5.15.87, 6.0.19, 6.1.5, 6.2affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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