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7.8

CVE-2023-53560: Linux kernel bug in tracing feature: removing triggers incorrectly

CVE-2023-53560 · published 10 months ago
Summary

A bug in the Linux kernel's tracing feature could allow a malicious user to remove a trigger that references variables, leading to a crash. This bug has been fixed in a recent update, and users are advised to update their kernel to the latest version to prevent potential issues. To ensure you have the latest security patches, check for and install any available updates for your Linux distribution.

What to do
  • Update linux linux to version 4ffad1528e81c91769d9da1f8436080861c8ec67 or later.
Affected software
VendorProductAffected versions
linux linux_kernel >= 4.17, < 4.19.291
>= 4.20, < 5.4.251
>= 5.5, < 5.10.188
>= 5.11, < 5.15.121
>= 5.16, < 6.1.40
>= 6.2, < 6.4.5
6.5
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
linux linux < 4ffad1528e81c91769d9da1f8436080861c8ec67
4.17
Original advisory text
tracing/histograms: Add histograms to hist_vars if they have referenced variables
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

tracing/histograms: Add histograms to hist_vars if they have referenced variables

Hist triggers can have referenced variables without having direct
variables fields. This can be the case if referenced variables are added
for trigger actions. In this case the newly added references will not
have field variables. Not taking such referenced variables into
consideration can result in a bug where it would be possible to remove
hist trigger with variables being refenced. This will result in a bug
that is easily reproducable like so

$ cd /sys/kernel/tracing
$ echo 'synthetic_sys_enter char[] comm; long id' >> synthetic_events
$ echo 'hist:keys=common_pid.execname,id.syscall:vals=hitcount:comm=common_pid.execname' >> events/raw_syscalls/sys_enter/trigger
$ echo 'hist:keys=common_pid.execname,id.syscall:onmatch(raw_syscalls.sys_enter).synthetic_sys_enter($comm, id)' >> events/raw_syscalls/sys_enter/trigger
$ echo '!hist:keys=common_pid.execname,id.syscall:vals=hitcount:comm=common_pid.execname' >> events/raw_syscalls/sys_enter/trigger

[ 100.263533] ==================================================================
[ 100.264634] BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in resolve_var_refs+0xc7/0x180
[ 100.265520] Read of size 8 at addr ffff88810375d0f0 by task bash/439
[ 100.266320]
[ 100.266533] CPU: 2 PID: 439 Comm: bash Not tainted 6.5.0-rc1 #4
[ 100.267277] Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.0-20220807_005459-localhost 04/01/2014
[ 100.268561] Call Trace:
[ 100.268902] <TASK>
[ 100.269189] dump_stack_lvl+0x4c/0x70
[ 100.269680] print_report+0xc5/0x600
[ 100.270165] ? resolve_var_refs+0xc7/0x180
[ 100.270697] ? kasan_complete_mode_report_info+0x80/0x1f0
[ 100.271389] ? resolve_var_refs+0xc7/0x180
[ 100.271913] kasan_report+0xbd/0x100
[ 100.272380] ? resolve_var_refs+0xc7/0x180
[ 100.272920] __asan_load8+0x71/0xa0
[ 100.273377] resolve_var_refs+0xc7/0x180
[ 100.273888] event_hist_trigger+0x749/0x860
[ 100.274505] ? kasan_save_stack+0x2a/0x50
[ 100.275024] ? kasan_set_track+0x29/0x40
[ 100.275536] ? __pfx_event_hist_trigger+0x10/0x10
[ 100.276138] ? ksys_write+0xd1/0x170
[ 100.276607] ? do_syscall_64+0x3c/0x90
[ 100.277099] ? entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0xd8
[ 100.277771] ? destroy_hist_data+0x446/0x470
[ 100.278324] ? event_hist_trigger_parse+0xa6c/0x3860
[ 100.278962] ? __pfx_event_hist_trigger_parse+0x10/0x10
[ 100.279627] ? __kasan_check_write+0x18/0x20
[ 100.280177] ? mutex_unlock+0x85/0xd0
[ 100.280660] ? __pfx_mutex_unlock+0x10/0x10
[ 100.281200] ? kfree+0x7b/0x120
[ 100.281619] ? ____kasan_slab_free+0x15d/0x1d0
[ 100.282197] ? event_trigger_write+0xac/0x100
[ 100.282764] ? __kasan_slab_free+0x16/0x20
[ 100.283293] ? __kmem_cache_free+0x153/0x2f0
[ 100.283844] ? sched_mm_cid_remote_clear+0xb1/0x250
[ 100.284550] ? __pfx_sched_mm_cid_remote_clear+0x10/0x10
[ 100.285221] ? event_trigger_write+0xbc/0x100
[ 100.285781] ? __kasan_check_read+0x15/0x20
[ 100.286321] ? __bitmap_weight+0x66/0xa0
[ 100.286833] ? _find_next_bit+0x46/0xe0
[ 100.287334] ? task_mm_cid_work+0x37f/0x450
[ 100.287872] event_triggers_call+0x84/0x150
[ 100.288408] trace_event_buffer_commit+0x339/0x430
[ 100.289073] ? ring_buffer_event_data+0x3f/0x60
[ 100.292189] trace_event_raw_event_sys_enter+0x8b/0xe0
[ 100.295434] syscall_trace_enter.constprop.0+0x18f/0x1b0
[ 100.298653] syscall_enter_from_user_mode+0x32/0x40
[ 100.301808] do_syscall_64+0x1a/0x90
[ 100.304748] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0xd8
[ 100.307775] RIP: 0033:0x7f686c75c1cb
[ 100.310617] Code: 73 01 c3 48 8b 0d 65 3c 10 00 f7 d8 64 89 01 48 83 c8 ff c3 66 2e 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 90 f3 0f 1e fa b8 21 00 00 00 0f 05 <48> 3d 01 f0 ff ff 73 01 c3 48 8b 0d 35 3c 10 00 f7 d8 64 89 01 48
[ 100.317847] RSP: 002b:00007ffc60137a38 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000021
[ 100.321200] RA
---truncated---
Severity
7.8 High
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 (NVD)
Exploitation
EPSS <1%
Type
CWE-416Use After Free
Timeline
Published4 Oct 2025
Updated4 Aug 2026
First seen6 Mar 2026
Sources
CVE-2023-53560 · MITRE
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