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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53437: media: uvcvideo: Handle cameras with invalid descriptors

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: uvcvideo: Handle cameras with invalid descriptors If the source entity does not contain any pads, do not create a link.

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel availability issue in the UVC camera driver. A local, low-privileged context can trigger failure conditions when the driver handles cameras with invalid descriptors. The published impact is denial of service, not data theft or privilege escalation.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate operational reliability issue. It is unlikely to justify emergency response alone, but it should be included in normal kernel patch cycles, especially for camera-enabled fleets.

Technical view

The uvcvideo media driver could attempt to create a media link from a source entity that has no pads. The fix changes driver behavior so no link is created in that invalid-descriptor case. CVSS is 5.5 with local attack vector and high availability impact only.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems using affected kernels where the uvcvideo driver processes UVC camera descriptors. Systems without camera use or local device access appear less exposed based on the source data, but kernel inventory is still required.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not report active exploitation, and KEV is false. CVSS indicates local access, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction, with impact limited to availability.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Linux stable commits. The issue is descriptor-handling logic in uvcvideo media graph setup. No CWE, exploit details, or distribution-specific package statuses are provided in the bundle.

Mitigation direction

  • Check the running kernel against vendor advisories and fixed stable kernel releases.
  • Prioritize updates on endpoints, kiosks, and systems using USB or integrated cameras.
  • Restrict local device access where practical until kernels are updated.
  • Use distribution-provided kernel packages rather than manually backporting unless required.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across camera-capable systems.
  • Confirm whether the uvcvideo driver is present or loaded on exposed systems.
  • Compare installed kernels with the listed affected and fixed source versions.
  • Verify vendor kernel changelogs include the uvcvideo invalid descriptor fix.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

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

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-2023-53437 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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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
9Source 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-2023-53437Attack 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
LinuxLinux6d30cf81ee3c0368175f76c03120af5d81e0c639, b4759a52b8940dbbfc565c918a3893ecaeb5b134, aa1362606059ade437a901fe7c33b24901683c14, cc52ed14f5ca849ef81e6a6bc4beea6dc43514d0, 7532dad6634031d083df7af606fac655b8d08b5c, 7532dad6634031d083df7af606fac655b8d08b5c, 7532dad6634031d083df7af606fac655b8d08b5c, 7532dad6634031d083df7af606fac655b8d08b5c, 9bf5da0d0fcca080b2254a30fa4b8ed47a96a0d0, d920b0940a0b2c0671e5a69ed3b3fe3a3a50b970, b950d6d8f4d7c78c9e5d08b61a66387c0b61f924, 4.14.224, 4.19.179, 5.4.103, 5.10.21, 4.4.260, 4.9.260, 5.11.4unaffected
LinuxLinux5.12, 0, 4.14.308, 4.19.276, 5.4.235, 5.10.173, 5.15.100, 6.1.18, 6.2.5, 6.3affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.