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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53833: drm/i915: Fix NULL ptr deref by checking new_crtc_state

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/i915: Fix NULL ptr deref by checking new_crtc_state intel_atomic_get_new_crtc_state can return NULL, unless crtc state wasn't obtained previously with intel_atomic_get_crtc_state, so we must check it for NULLness here, just as in many other places, where we can't guarantee that intel_atomic_get_crtc_state was called. We are currently getting NULL ptr deref because of that, so this fix was confirmed to help. (cherry picked from commit 1d5b09f8daf859247a1ea65b0d732a24d88980d8)

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue is a crash-risk bug in the Intel i915 graphics driver path. A missing NULL check can cause a kernel NULL pointer dereference. The public record does not provide CVSS, attack prerequisites, or confirmed business impact, so urgency should be driven by affected kernel presence and vendor update availability.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted kernel stability issue, not a confirmed widespread emergency. Patch through normal kernel maintenance, with higher priority for fleets using Intel i915 graphics or where workstation availability is business-critical.

Technical view

In drm/i915, intel_atomic_get_new_crtc_state can return NULL when the CRTC state was not previously obtained. The vulnerable path dereferenced that result without checking. The referenced kernel stable commits add the NULL check. The source describes a confirmed NULL pointer dereference, but not privilege requirements or broader impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions or downstream builds with the vulnerable drm/i915 code. Systems using Intel i915 graphics are the most relevant candidates. The version data in the provided CVE bundle is incomplete and should be validated against vendor kernel packages.

Exploitation context

No cited source reports active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle. The source evidence supports a kernel NULL pointer dereference, but does not describe remote reachability, exploitability, or a weaponized attack path.

Researcher notes

The useful evidence is the upstream fix rationale: intel_atomic_get_new_crtc_state may return NULL unless state was obtained earlier. The CVE bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, attack vector, and downstream distribution status, so conclusions beyond crash potential are not source-supported.

Mitigation direction

  • Check Linux distribution advisories for CVE-2023-53833 or matching i915 stable commits.
  • Prioritize kernel updates on systems using Intel i915 graphics.
  • Track vendor backports rather than relying only on upstream version numbers.
  • If no vendor fix is available, assess whether i915 is required on exposed systems.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and distribution package releases.
  • Identify systems loading or configured for the i915 driver.
  • Compare installed kernels against vendor advisories and referenced stable commits.
  • Review kernel logs for NULL pointer dereference events involving drm/i915.
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

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

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CVE-2023-53833 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

    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
LinuxLinux74a75dc908692dd0548209004e53832c02433c0c, 74a75dc908692dd0548209004e53832c02433c0c, 74a75dc908692dd0548209004e53832c02433c0cunaffected
LinuxLinux5.16, 0, 6.1.30, 6.3.4, 6.4affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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