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CVE Record

CVE-2023-54298: thermal: intel: quark_dts: fix error pointer dereference

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: thermal: intel: quark_dts: fix error pointer dereference If alloc_soc_dts() fails, then we can just return. Trying to free "soc_dts" will lead to an Oops.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel bug in the Intel Quark thermal driver. If an internal allocation fails, the driver can dereference an error pointer while cleaning up, causing a kernel Oops. The public bundle does not provide CVSS, confirmed impact scope, or exploitation evidence.

Executive priority

Handle through normal Linux kernel patch management unless your environment runs Intel Quark-based systems where kernel availability is business-critical. There is no source-backed evidence here of active exploitation or broad remote exposure.

Technical view

The flaw is in thermal: intel: quark_dts. When alloc_soc_dts() fails, the corrected behavior is to return immediately. The vulnerable path attempts to free soc_dts after failure, which can dereference an error pointer and trigger an Oops.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using the Intel Quark DTS thermal driver on affected kernel versions or branches. The bundle does not identify distributions, appliance products, or remote attack surfaces.

Exploitation context

The source bundle says KEV is false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation, public exploit availability, remote reachability, privileges required, or attacker workflow. Treat exploitation status as unconfirmed.

Researcher notes

Evidence is sparse: the record describes a defensive fix for an error path and lists stable kernel commits, but lacks CVSS, CWE, exploitability analysis, and distribution mappings. Avoid assuming remote code execution or active exploitation.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for backported patches.
  • Prioritize systems using Intel Quark hardware or the quark_dts driver.
  • If no vendor package exists, follow kernel vendor guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions on relevant systems.
  • Check whether the Intel Quark DTS thermal driver is present or loaded.
  • Compare installed kernel packages against distribution advisories.
  • Confirm the referenced fix commit is included or backported.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

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-2023-54298 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
9Source 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
LinuxLinux8c1876939663191b5044807230fa295f35462215, 8c1876939663191b5044807230fa295f35462215, 8c1876939663191b5044807230fa295f35462215, 8c1876939663191b5044807230fa295f35462215, 8c1876939663191b5044807230fa295f35462215, 8c1876939663191b5044807230fa295f35462215, 8c1876939663191b5044807230fa295f35462215, 8c1876939663191b5044807230fa295f35462215unaffected
LinuxLinux4.2, 0, 4.14.308, 4.19.276, 5.4.235, 5.10.173, 5.15.100, 6.1.18, 6.2.5, 6.3affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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