LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2023-53458: media: cx23885: Fix a null-ptr-deref bug in buffer_prepare() and buffer_finish()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: cx23885: Fix a null-ptr-deref bug in buffer_prepare() and buffer_finish() When the driver calls cx23885_risc_buffer() to prepare the buffer, the function call dma_alloc_coherent may fail, resulting in a empty buffer risc->cpu. Later when we free the buffer or access the buffer, null ptr deref is triggered. This bug is similar to the following one: https://git.linuxtv.org/media_stage.git/commit/?id=2b064d91440b33fba5b452f2d1b31f13ae911d71. We believe the bug can be also dynamically triggered from user side. Similarly, we fix this by checking the return value of cx23885_risc_buffer() and the value of risc->cpu before buffer free.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-53458 is a Linux kernel bug in the cx23885 media driver. If memory allocation fails during buffer setup, later code can dereference a null pointer. The practical risk is disruption on systems using this driver, but the public source does not provide CVSS, confirmed impact scope, or active exploitation evidence.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted Linux kernel stability risk, not a broadly proven internet-scale emergency. Prioritize patch validation on systems using media capture hardware or custom kernels, and fold remaining systems into normal kernel update cycles.

Technical view

The flaw is in buffer_prepare() and buffer_finish() paths for the cx23885 driver. cx23885_risc_buffer() can leave risc->cpu empty after dma_alloc_coherent failure, and later access or free operations can trigger a null pointer dereference. Kernel stable commits add return-value and risc->cpu checks.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems with the cx23885 media driver present and reachable, especially systems using compatible video capture hardware. The source lists Linux as affected and references stable kernel fixes, but does not provide distro package names or complete version ranges.

Exploitation context

The CVE text says the bug is believed to be dynamically triggerable from user side. There is no KEV listing and no provided source confirming active exploitation, public exploit availability, privilege escalation, or remote reachability.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record and kernel stable references. The root cause is clear, but severity, exact distro exposure, exploitability boundaries, and complete affected-version mapping require vendor-specific confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for backported cx23885 fixes.
  • Disable or avoid loading the cx23885 driver where it is not needed.
  • Prioritize systems using cx23885-supported media capture hardware.
  • Track vendor guidance because package-level fixes are not listed here.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux systems for loaded or packaged cx23885 driver support.
  • Compare running kernel builds against vendor advisories and fixed stable commits.
  • Confirm whether affected media capture hardware is present or exposed.
  • Review kernel logs for cx23885 faults or null pointer dereference crashes.
  • Verify patched kernels include the buffer return-value and risc->cpu checks.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
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

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.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2023-53458 mapping review

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

Open ATT&CK lookup
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
5Source links

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.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux4d63a25c4523b5d18e5307897d56aff785f43bf5, 4d63a25c4523b5d18e5307897d56aff785f43bf5, 4d63a25c4523b5d18e5307897d56aff785f43bf5, 4d63a25c4523b5d18e5307897d56aff785f43bf5unaffected
LinuxLinux3.18, 0, 5.15.113, 6.1.30, 6.3.4, 6.4affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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