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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53791: md: fix warning for holder mismatch from export_rdev()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: md: fix warning for holder mismatch from export_rdev() Commit a1d767191096 ("md: use mddev->external to select holder in export_rdev()") fix the problem that 'claim_rdev' is used for blkdev_get_by_dev() while 'rdev' is used for blkdev_put(). However, if mddev->external is changed from 0 to 1, then 'rdev' is used for blkdev_get_by_dev() while 'claim_rdev' is used for blkdev_put(). And this problem can be reporduced reliably by following: New file: mdadm/tests/23rdev-lifetime devname=${dev0##*/} devt=`cat /sys/block/$devname/dev` pid="" runtime=2 clean_up_test() { pill -9 $pid echo clear > /sys/block/md0/md/array_state } trap 'clean_up_test' EXIT add_by_sysfs() { while true; do echo $devt > /sys/block/md0/md/new_dev done } remove_by_sysfs(){ while true; do echo remove > /sys/block/md0/md/dev-${devname}/state done } echo md0 > /sys/module/md_mod/parameters/new_array || die "create md0 failed" add_by_sysfs & pid="$pid $!" remove_by_sysfs & pid="$pid $!" sleep $runtime exit 0 Test cmd: ./test --save-logs --logdir=/tmp/ --keep-going --dev=loop --tests=23rdev-lifetime Test result: ------------[ cut here ]------------ WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 960 at block/bdev.c:618 blkdev_put+0x27c/0x330 Modules linked in: multipath md_mod loop CPU: 0 PID: 960 Comm: test Not tainted 6.5.0-rc2-00121-g01e55c376936-dirty #50 RIP: 0010:blkdev_put+0x27c/0x330 Call Trace: <TASK> export_rdev.isra.23+0x50/0xa0 [md_mod] mddev_unlock+0x19d/0x300 [md_mod] rdev_attr_store+0xec/0x190 [md_mod] sysfs_kf_write+0x52/0x70 kernfs_fop_write_iter+0x19a/0x2a0 vfs_write+0x3b5/0x770 ksys_write+0x74/0x150 __x64_sys_write+0x22/0x30 do_syscall_64+0x40/0x90 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd Fix the problem by recording if 'rdev' is used as holder.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-53791 is a Linux kernel md software RAID bug involving mismatched block-device holder tracking. The provided sources show a kernel warning during rapid local add/remove operations through sysfs. No CVSS score, CWE, business impact, or active exploitation evidence is provided.

Executive priority

Track as a kernel maintenance issue for affected Linux RAID systems. Escalate only if critical servers use md RAID and cannot be promptly patched, or if vendor advisories later assign higher impact.

Technical view

In the md driver, export_rdev() could pair blkdev_get_by_dev() and blkdev_put() with different holder objects when mddev->external changes state. The resolved fix records whether rdev was used as the holder. The source demonstrates a WARN in blkdev_put(), not a confirmed privilege escalation or remote attack path.

Likely exposure

Likely limited to Linux systems using md software RAID where local users or management tooling can manipulate md devices through sysfs. The bundle lists Linux kernel 6.5, 6.5.5, and 6.6 as affected, but does not provide full distribution mappings.

Exploitation context

The bundle contains a local reliability test that triggers a kernel warning. It does not cite active exploitation, public weaponization, remote reachability, or KEV inclusion. Treat exploitability and impact as unresolved from the available evidence.

Researcher notes

Evidence is narrow: a holder lifetime mismatch causes a WARN under local sysfs-driven md add/remove races. The CVE record lacks CVSS, CWE, impact characterization, and exploit evidence. Avoid assuming denial of service or privilege escalation without vendor confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify Linux hosts using md software RAID.
  • Check vendor advisories for kernels containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize updates for systems allowing local md device management.
  • Restrict administrative access to md/sysfs management paths.
  • Monitor kernel logs for md or blkdev_put warnings.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions on md RAID hosts.
  • Check whether the referenced stable commits are present.
  • Review distribution security advisories for CVE-2023-53791.
  • Search kernel logs for related md_mod or blkdev_put warnings.
  • Confirm no untrusted users can manage md devices.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

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-2023-53791 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
3Source 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.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxa1d7671910965ca9f8f0377e7e3bfd1179fba4d8, a1d7671910965ca9f8f0377e7e3bfd1179fba4d8unaffected
LinuxLinux6.5, 0, 6.5.5, 6.6affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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