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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53455: drm/vc4: drop all currently held locks if deadlock happens

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/vc4: drop all currently held locks if deadlock happens If vc4_hdmi_reset_link() returns -EDEADLK, it means that a deadlock happened in the locking context. This situation should be addressed by dropping all currently held locks and block until the contended lock becomes available. Currently, vc4 is not dealing with the deadlock properly, producing the following output when PROVE_LOCKING is enabled: [ 825.612809] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [ 825.612852] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 116 at drivers/gpu/drm/drm_modeset_lock.c:276 drm_modeset_drop_locks+0x60/0x68 [drm] [ 825.613458] Modules linked in: 8021q mrp garp stp llc raspberrypi_cpufreq brcmfmac brcmutil crct10dif_ce hci_uart cfg80211 btqca btbcm bluetooth vc4 raspberrypi_hwmon snd_soc_hdmi_codec cec clk_raspberrypi ecdh_generic drm_display_helper ecc rfkill drm_dma_helper drm_kms_helper pwm_bcm2835 bcm2835_thermal bcm2835_rng rng_core i2c_bcm2835 drm fuse ip_tables x_tables ipv6 [ 825.613735] CPU: 1 PID: 116 Comm: kworker/1:2 Tainted: G W 6.1.0-rc6-01399-g941aae326315 #3 [ 825.613759] Hardware name: Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Rev 1.2 (DT) [ 825.613777] Workqueue: events output_poll_execute [drm_kms_helper] [ 825.614038] pstate: 60000005 (nZCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 825.614063] pc : drm_modeset_drop_locks+0x60/0x68 [drm] [ 825.614603] lr : drm_helper_probe_detect+0x120/0x1b4 [drm_kms_helper] [ 825.614829] sp : ffff800008313bf0 [ 825.614844] x29: ffff800008313bf0 x28: ffffcd7778b8b000 x27: 0000000000000000 [ 825.614883] x26: 0000000000000001 x25: 0000000000000001 x24: ffff677cc35c2758 [ 825.614920] x23: ffffcd7707d01430 x22: ffffcd7707c3edc7 x21: 0000000000000001 [ 825.614958] x20: 0000000000000000 x19: ffff800008313c10 x18: 000000000000b6d3 [ 825.614995] x17: ffffcd777835e214 x16: ffffcd7777cef870 x15: fffff81000000000 [ 825.615033] x14: 0000000000000000 x13: 0000000000000099 x12: 0000000000000002 [ 825.615070] x11: 72917988020af800 x10: 72917988020af800 x9 : 72917988020af800 [ 825.615108] x8 : ffff677cc665e0a8 x7 : d00a8c180000110c x6 : ffffcd77774c0054 [ 825.615145] x5 : 0000000000000000 x4 : 0000000000000001 x3 : 0000000000000000 [ 825.615181] x2 : ffff677cc55e1880 x1 : ffffcd7777cef8ec x0 : ffff800008313c10 [ 825.615219] Call trace: [ 825.615232] drm_modeset_drop_locks+0x60/0x68 [drm] [ 825.615773] drm_helper_probe_detect+0x120/0x1b4 [drm_kms_helper] [ 825.616003] output_poll_execute+0xe4/0x224 [drm_kms_helper] [ 825.616233] process_one_work+0x2b4/0x618 [ 825.616264] worker_thread+0x24c/0x464 [ 825.616288] kthread+0xec/0x110 [ 825.616310] ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 [ 825.616335] irq event stamp: 7634 [ 825.616349] hardirqs last enabled at (7633): [<ffffcd777831ee90>] _raw_spin_unlock_irq+0x3c/0x78 [ 825.616384] hardirqs last disabled at (7634): [<ffffcd7778315a78>] __schedule+0x134/0x9f0 [ 825.616411] softirqs last enabled at (7630): [<ffffcd7707aacea0>] local_bh_enable+0x4/0x30 [ipv6] [ 825.617019] softirqs last disabled at (7618): [<ffffcd7707aace70>] local_bh_disable+0x4/0x30 [ipv6] [ 825.617586] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- Therefore, deal with the deadlock as suggested by [1], using the function drm_modeset_backoff(). [1] https://docs.kernel.org/gpu/drm-kms.html?highlight=kms#kms-locking

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-53455 is a Linux kernel issue in the VC4 graphics HDMI path. When a display-related lock deadlock occurs, the driver did not drop held locks as required. The public record shows a kernel warning and a stable-kernel fix, but no CVSS score, KEV listing, or public exploitation evidence.

Executive priority

Track and patch through normal kernel maintenance unless VC4-based display devices are operationally critical. There is not enough public evidence to justify emergency response from the supplied sources alone.

Technical view

The issue is in drm/vc4 handling of vc4_hdmi_reset_link() returning -EDEADLK. The driver should back off by dropping modeset locks and waiting for the contended lock, using drm_modeset_backoff(). The supplied trace shows drm_modeset_drop_locks warnings during output polling with vc4 on Raspberry Pi hardware.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using the VC4 DRM HDMI/display stack, such as Raspberry Pi-class VC4 graphics environments. Generic Linux servers without VC4 graphics are unlikely to be affected based on the supplied sources.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show active exploitation, weaponized proof of concept, or CISA KEV listing. Evidence is a kernel locking bug report and upstream stable commits. Treat exploitation status as not established.

Researcher notes

The root issue is improper -EDEADLK handling in VC4 HDMI reset link flow. The fix direction is using drm_modeset_backoff() per DRM KMS locking guidance. Affected-version detail in the bundle is incomplete and should be verified against kernel stable branches or vendor backports.

Mitigation direction

  • Check whether deployed kernels include the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize affected VC4/Raspberry Pi display systems over unrelated Linux servers.
  • Follow Linux distribution or device vendor kernel update guidance.
  • Avoid inventing workarounds beyond vendor kernel guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux devices using the vc4 DRM driver.
  • Compare kernel versions and backports against the referenced stable commits.
  • Review kernel logs for VC4/DRM locking warnings around display polling.
  • Confirm vendor advisories or changelogs for CVE-2023-53455 coverage.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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-2023-53455 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

Vulnerability timeline

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

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

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  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

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Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux6bed2ea3cb3856edf37cca20753e689ee8774793, 6bed2ea3cb3856edf37cca20753e689ee8774793, 6bed2ea3cb3856edf37cca20753e689ee8774793unaffected
LinuxLinux6.1, 0, 6.1.16, 6.2.3, 6.3affected
Weakness

CWE details

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