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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53718: ring-buffer: Do not swap cpu_buffer during resize process

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ring-buffer: Do not swap cpu_buffer during resize process When ring_buffer_swap_cpu was called during resize process, the cpu buffer was swapped in the middle, resulting in incorrect state. Continuing to run in the wrong state will result in oops. This issue can be easily reproduced using the following two scripts: /tmp # cat test1.sh //#! /bin/sh for i in `seq 0 100000` do echo 2000 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/buffer_size_kb sleep 0.5 echo 5000 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/buffer_size_kb sleep 0.5 done /tmp # cat test2.sh //#! /bin/sh for i in `seq 0 100000` do echo irqsoff > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/current_tracer sleep 1 echo nop > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/current_tracer sleep 1 done /tmp # ./test1.sh & /tmp # ./test2.sh & A typical oops log is as follows, sometimes with other different oops logs. [ 231.711293] WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 9 at kernel/trace/ring_buffer.c:2026 rb_update_pages+0x378/0x3f8 [ 231.713375] Modules linked in: [ 231.714735] CPU: 0 PID: 9 Comm: kworker/0:1 Tainted: G W 6.5.0-rc1-00276-g20edcec23f92 #15 [ 231.716750] Hardware name: linux,dummy-virt (DT) [ 231.718152] Workqueue: events update_pages_handler [ 231.719714] pstate: 60000005 (nZCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 231.721171] pc : rb_update_pages+0x378/0x3f8 [ 231.722212] lr : rb_update_pages+0x25c/0x3f8 [ 231.723248] sp : ffff800082b9bd50 [ 231.724169] x29: ffff800082b9bd50 x28: ffff8000825f7000 x27: 0000000000000000 [ 231.726102] x26: 0000000000000001 x25: fffffffffffff010 x24: 0000000000000ff0 [ 231.728122] x23: ffff0000c3a0b600 x22: ffff0000c3a0b5c0 x21: fffffffffffffe0a [ 231.730203] x20: ffff0000c3a0b600 x19: ffff0000c0102400 x18: 0000000000000000 [ 231.732329] x17: 0000000000000000 x16: 0000000000000000 x15: 0000ffffe7aa8510 [ 231.734212] x14: 0000000000000000 x13: 0000000000000000 x12: 0000000000000002 [ 231.736291] x11: ffff8000826998a8 x10: ffff800082b9baf0 x9 : ffff800081137558 [ 231.738195] x8 : fffffc00030e82c8 x7 : 0000000000000000 x6 : 0000000000000001 [ 231.740192] x5 : ffff0000ffbafe00 x4 : 0000000000000000 x3 : 0000000000000000 [ 231.742118] x2 : 00000000000006aa x1 : 0000000000000001 x0 : ffff0000c0007208 [ 231.744196] Call trace: [ 231.744892] rb_update_pages+0x378/0x3f8 [ 231.745893] update_pages_handler+0x1c/0x38 [ 231.746893] process_one_work+0x1f0/0x468 [ 231.747852] worker_thread+0x54/0x410 [ 231.748737] kthread+0x124/0x138 [ 231.749549] ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 [ 231.750434] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- [ 233.720486] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000000 [ 233.721696] Mem abort info: [ 233.721935] ESR = 0x0000000096000004 [ 233.722283] EC = 0x25: DABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits [ 233.722596] SET = 0, FnV = 0 [ 233.722805] EA = 0, S1PTW = 0 [ 233.723026] FSC = 0x04: level 0 translation fault [ 233.723458] Data abort info: [ 233.723734] ISV = 0, ISS = 0x00000004, ISS2 = 0x00000000 [ 233.724176] CM = 0, WnR = 0, TnD = 0, TagAccess = 0 [ 233.724589] GCS = 0, Overlay = 0, DirtyBit = 0, Xs = 0 [ 233.725075] user pgtable: 4k pages, 48-bit VAs, pgdp=0000000104943000 [ 233.725592] [0000000000000000] pgd=0000000000000000, p4d=0000000000000000 [ 233.726231] Internal error: Oops: 0000000096000004 [#1] PREEMPT SMP [ 233.726720] Modules linked in: [ 233.727007] CPU: 0 PID: 9 Comm: kworker/0:1 Tainted: G W 6.5.0-rc1-00276-g20edcec23f92 #15 [ 233.727777] Hardware name: linux,dummy-virt (DT) [ 233.728225] Workqueue: events update_pages_handler [ 233.728655] pstate: 200000c5 (nzCv daIF -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 233.729054] pc : rb_update_pages+0x1a8/0x3f8 [ 233.729334] lr : rb_update_pages+0x154/0x3f8 [ 233.729592] sp : ffff800082b9bd50 [ 233.729792] x29: ffff800082b9bd50 x28: ffff8000825f7000 x27: 00000000 ---truncated---

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-53718 is a Linux kernel tracing ring-buffer bug that can put the kernel into an invalid state during buffer resizing. The observed impact is a kernel oops and NULL pointer dereference, which can disrupt availability. The provided sources do not show active exploitation or remote attack exposure.

Executive priority

Prioritize normal kernel patching for exposed Linux fleets, especially shared infrastructure and systems where tracing is enabled. Escalate if business-critical systems show matching kernel oops events or if vendors rate the issue higher for their builds.

Technical view

The flaw occurs when ring_buffer_swap_cpu runs while ring-buffer resize work is in progress, swapping cpu_buffer state mid-operation. The supplied kernel report shows warnings in rb_update_pages followed by a NULL pointer dereference. The fix prevents swapping cpu_buffer during resize.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant on Linux systems running affected kernel builds with tracing/debugfs functionality reachable by administrators or privileged automation. The bundle does not establish unauthenticated, remote, or container breakout exposure. Distribution kernels may differ because vendors often backport fixes.

Exploitation context

The source bundle includes a local reproduction scenario using Linux tracing controls, but no KEV listing, public exploitation claim, or exploit-in-the-wild evidence. Treat this primarily as a potential local availability issue until vendor advisories say otherwise.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports a race/state corruption bug in kernel tracing ring-buffer resize handling. The CVE data lacks CVSS, CWE, and exploitability detail. Avoid assuming broad exploitability; focus validation on affected kernel lineage, downstream backports, tracing permissions, and crash telemetry.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux kernel updates containing the stable ring-buffer resize fix.
  • Check distribution advisories for backported fixes before relying on version numbers alone.
  • Restrict debugfs and tracing controls to trusted administrators.
  • Monitor kernel logs for rb_update_pages, ring_buffer, or tracing-related oops events.
  • For appliances, request vendor confirmation that the fix is included.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux servers and appliances.
  • Map each kernel to vendor advisories or the referenced stable commits.
  • Review who can access tracing and debugfs controls.
  • Search kernel logs for matching oops or NULL pointer dereference signatures.
  • Validate updates in staging before production rollout.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

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.

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CVE-2023-53718 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
6Source 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
LinuxLinux83f40318dab00e3298a1f6d0b12ac025e84e478d, 83f40318dab00e3298a1f6d0b12ac025e84e478d, 83f40318dab00e3298a1f6d0b12ac025e84e478d, 83f40318dab00e3298a1f6d0b12ac025e84e478d, 83f40318dab00e3298a1f6d0b12ac025e84e478dunaffected
LinuxLinux3.5, 0, 5.10.192, 5.15.128, 6.1.47, 6.4.12, 6.5affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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