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CVE-2023-53627: scsi: hisi_sas: Grab sas_dev lock when traversing the members of sas_dev.list

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: scsi: hisi_sas: Grab sas_dev lock when traversing the members of sas_dev.list When freeing slots in function slot_complete_v3_hw(), it is possible that sas_dev.list is being traversed elsewhere, and it may trigger a NULL pointer exception, such as follows: ==>cq thread ==>scsi_eh_6 ==>scsi_error_handler() ==>sas_eh_handle_sas_errors() ==>sas_scsi_find_task() ==>lldd_abort_task() ==>slot_complete_v3_hw() ==>hisi_sas_abort_task() ==>hisi_sas_slot_task_free() ==>dereg_device_v3_hw() ==>list_del_init() ==>list_for_each_entry_safe() [ 7165.434918] sas: Enter sas_scsi_recover_host busy: 32 failed: 32 [ 7165.434926] sas: trying to find task 0x00000000769b5ba5 [ 7165.434927] sas: sas_scsi_find_task: aborting task 0x00000000769b5ba5 [ 7165.434940] hisi_sas_v3_hw 0000:b4:02.0: slot complete: task(00000000769b5ba5) aborted [ 7165.434964] hisi_sas_v3_hw 0000:b4:02.0: slot complete: task(00000000c9f7aa07) ignored [ 7165.434965] hisi_sas_v3_hw 0000:b4:02.0: slot complete: task(00000000e2a1cf01) ignored [ 7165.434968] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000000 [ 7165.434972] hisi_sas_v3_hw 0000:b4:02.0: slot complete: task(0000000022d52d93) ignored [ 7165.434975] hisi_sas_v3_hw 0000:b4:02.0: slot complete: task(0000000066a7516c) ignored [ 7165.434976] Mem abort info: [ 7165.434982] ESR = 0x96000004 [ 7165.434991] Exception class = DABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits [ 7165.434992] SET = 0, FnV = 0 [ 7165.434993] EA = 0, S1PTW = 0 [ 7165.434994] Data abort info: [ 7165.434994] ISV = 0, ISS = 0x00000004 [ 7165.434995] CM = 0, WnR = 0 [ 7165.434997] user pgtable: 4k pages, 48-bit VAs, pgdp = 00000000f29543f2 [ 7165.434998] [0000000000000000] pgd=0000000000000000 [ 7165.435003] Internal error: Oops: 96000004 [#1] SMP [ 7165.439863] Process scsi_eh_6 (pid: 4109, stack limit = 0x00000000c43818d5) [ 7165.468862] pstate: 00c00009 (nzcv daif +PAN +UAO) [ 7165.473637] pc : dereg_device_v3_hw+0x68/0xa8 [hisi_sas_v3_hw] [ 7165.479443] lr : dereg_device_v3_hw+0x2c/0xa8 [hisi_sas_v3_hw] [ 7165.485247] sp : ffff00001d623bc0 [ 7165.488546] x29: ffff00001d623bc0 x28: ffffa027d03b9508 [ 7165.493835] x27: ffff80278ed50af0 x26: ffffa027dd31e0a8 [ 7165.499123] x25: ffffa027d9b27f88 x24: ffffa027d9b209f8 [ 7165.504411] x23: ffffa027c45b0d60 x22: ffff80278ec07c00 [ 7165.509700] x21: 0000000000000008 x20: ffffa027d9b209f8 [ 7165.514988] x19: ffffa027d9b27f88 x18: ffffffffffffffff [ 7165.520276] x17: 0000000000000000 x16: 0000000000000000 [ 7165.525564] x15: ffff0000091d9708 x14: ffff0000093b7dc8 [ 7165.530852] x13: ffff0000093b7a23 x12: 6e7265746e692067 [ 7165.536140] x11: 0000000000000000 x10: 0000000000000bb0 [ 7165.541429] x9 : ffff00001d6238f0 x8 : ffffa027d877af00 [ 7165.546718] x7 : ffffa027d6329600 x6 : ffff7e809f58ca00 [ 7165.552006] x5 : 0000000000001f8a x4 : 000000000000088e [ 7165.557295] x3 : ffffa027d9b27fa8 x2 : 0000000000000000 [ 7165.562583] x1 : 0000000000000000 x0 : 000000003000188e [ 7165.567872] Call trace: [ 7165.570309] dereg_device_v3_hw+0x68/0xa8 [hisi_sas_v3_hw] [ 7165.575775] hisi_sas_abort_task+0x248/0x358 [hisi_sas_main] [ 7165.581415] sas_eh_handle_sas_errors+0x258/0x8e0 [libsas] [ 7165.586876] sas_scsi_recover_host+0x134/0x458 [libsas] [ 7165.592082] scsi_error_handler+0xb4/0x488 [ 7165.596163] kthread+0x134/0x138 [ 7165.599380] ret_from_fork+0x10/0x18 [ 7165.602940] Code: d5033e9f b9000040 aa0103e2 eb03003f (f9400021) [ 7165.609004] kernel fault(0x1) notification starting on CPU 75 [ 7165.700728] ---[ end trace fc042cbbea224efc ]--- [ 7165.705326] Kernel panic - not syncing: Fatal exception To fix the issue, grab sas_dev lock when traversing the members of sas_dev.list in dereg_device_v3_hw() and hisi_sas_release_tasks() to avoid concurrency of adding and deleting member. When ---truncated---

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A race condition in the Linux hisi_sas storage driver can cause a NULL-pointer fault and kernel panic while storage tasks are completed and recovered concurrently. Affected systems may abruptly stop, disrupting storage-dependent services. Exposure is likely limited to Linux hosts using relevant HiSilicon SAS hardware and driver paths.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority for affected storage infrastructure because a kernel panic can interrupt critical services. Scope first by hardware and driver use; systems without the relevant hisi_sas path are unlikely to be exposed. Expedite vendor-supported updates on confirmed hosts.

Technical view

The hisi_sas driver traverses sas_dev.list during device deregistration and task release without consistently holding the sas_dev lock. Concurrent slot cleanup can modify that list, producing an invalid pointer dereference. The documented result is a kernel oops followed by panic. The fix adds locking around affected list traversal.

Likely exposure

Prioritize Linux servers using the hisi_sas v3 hardware driver, particularly storage-intensive systems where SCSI error recovery occurs. The supplied version data lists Linux 4.5, 6.3.4, and 6.4 but is structurally ambiguous; confirm affected and fixed releases with the kernel or distribution vendor.

Exploitation context

The supplied CVSS vector describes local, low-complexity exploitation requiring low privileges and no user interaction. However, the source bundle provides no proof of active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. The demonstrated impact is a kernel panic; attacker control over confidentiality or integrity is not established by the description.

Researcher notes

The root cause is unsafe concurrent traversal and mutation of sas_dev.list in dereg_device_v3_hw() and hisi_sas_release_tasks(). The source describes locking as the correction. Exact vulnerable release boundaries cannot be stated confidently from the supplied affected array, and the description is truncated; use linked commits and distribution guidance for backport verification.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable upstream stable fix.
  • Confirm the corrected hisi_sas locking changes are included before treating an update as remediated.
  • Prioritize storage hosts using HiSilicon SAS controllers and the hisi_sas driver.
  • Restrict untrusted local access while awaiting vendor-confirmed remediation.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux hosts loading hisi_sas or hisi_sas_v3_hw.
  • Map installed kernel builds to vendor advisories or the linked stable commits.
  • Review kernel logs for hisi_sas faults, NULL-pointer dereferences, oops events, or panics.
  • Validate updated storage workloads and SCSI error recovery in a controlled maintenance window.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

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-2023-53627 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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
0ADP providers
3Source links

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
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2023-53627Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux47caad1577cd7a39e2048c5e4edbce4b863dc12b, 47caad1577cd7a39e2048c5e4edbce4b863dc12bunaffected
LinuxLinux4.5, 0, 6.3.4, 6.4affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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