CVE-2023-52506

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: LoongArch: Set all reserved memblocks on Node#0 at initialization After commit 61167ad5fecdea ("mm: pass nid to reserve_bootmem_region()") we get a panic if DEFERRED_STRUCT_PAGE_INIT is enabled: [ 0.000000] CPU 0 Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address 0000000000002b82, era == 90000000040e3f28, ra == 90000000040e3f18 [ 0.000000] Oops[#1]: [ 0.000000] CPU: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper Not tainted 6.5.0+ #733 [ 0.000000] pc 90000000040e3f28 ra 90000000040e3f18 tp 90000000046f4000 sp 90000000046f7c90 [ 0.000000] a0 0000000000000001 a1 0000000000200000 a2 0000000000000040 a3 90000000046f7ca0 [ 0.000000] a4 90000000046f7ca4 a5 0000000000000000 a6 90000000046f7c38 a7 0000000000000000 [ 0.000000] t0 0000000000000002 t1 9000000004b00ac8 t2 90000000040e3f18 t3 90000000040f0800 [ 0.000000] t4 00000000000f0000 t5 80000000ffffe07e t6 0000000000000003 t7 900000047fff5e20 [ 0.000000] t8 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaab u0 0000000000000018 s9 0000000000000000 s0 fffffefffe000000 [ 0.000000] s1 0000000000000000 s2 0000000000000080 s3 0000000000000040 s4 0000000000000000 [ 0.000000] s5 0000000000000000 s6 fffffefffe000000 s7 900000000470b740 s8 9000000004ad4000 [ 0.000000] ra: 90000000040e3f18 reserve_bootmem_region+0xec/0x21c [ 0.000000] ERA: 90000000040e3f28 reserve_bootmem_region+0xfc/0x21c [ 0.000000] CRMD: 000000b0 (PLV0 -IE -DA +PG DACF=CC DACM=CC -WE) [ 0.000000] PRMD: 00000000 (PPLV0 -PIE -PWE) [ 0.000000] EUEN: 00000000 (-FPE -SXE -ASXE -BTE) [ 0.000000] ECFG: 00070800 (LIE=11 VS=7) [ 0.000000] ESTAT: 00010800 [PIL] (IS=11 ECode=1 EsubCode=0) [ 0.000000] BADV: 0000000000002b82 [ 0.000000] PRID: 0014d000 (Loongson-64bit, Loongson-3A6000) [ 0.000000] Modules linked in: [ 0.000000] Process swapper (pid: 0, threadinfo=(____ptrval____), task=(____ptrval____)) [ 0.000000] Stack : 0000000000000000 9000000002eb5430 0000003a00000020 90000000045ccd00 [ 0.000000] 900000000470e000 90000000002c1918 0000000000000000 9000000004110780 [ 0.000000] 00000000fe6c0000 0000000480000000 9000000004b4e368 9000000004110748 [ 0.000000] 0000000000000000 900000000421ca84 9000000004620000 9000000004564970 [ 0.000000] 90000000046f7d78 9000000002cc9f70 90000000002c1918 900000000470e000 [ 0.000000] 9000000004564970 90000000040bc0e0 90000000046f7d78 0000000000000000 [ 0.000000] 0000000000004000 90000000045ccd00 0000000000000000 90000000002c1918 [ 0.000000] 90000000002c1900 900000000470b700 9000000004b4df78 9000000004620000 [ 0.000000] 90000000046200a8 90000000046200a8 0000000000000000 9000000004218b2c [ 0.000000] 9000000004270008 0000000000000001 0000000000000000 90000000045ccd00 [ 0.000000] ... [ 0.000000] Call Trace: [ 0.000000] [<90000000040e3f28>] reserve_bootmem_region+0xfc/0x21c [ 0.000000] [<900000000421ca84>] memblock_free_all+0x114/0x350 [ 0.000000] [<9000000004218b2c>] mm_core_init+0x138/0x3cc [ 0.000000] [<9000000004200e38>] start_kernel+0x488/0x7a4 [ 0.000000] [<90000000040df0d8>] kernel_entry+0xd8/0xdc [ 0.000000] [ 0.000000] Code: 02eb21ad 00410f4c 380c31ac <262b818d> 6800b70d 02c1c196 0015001c 57fe4bb1 260002cd The reason is early memblock_reserve() in memblock_init() set node id to MAX_NUMNODES, making NODE_DATA(nid) a NULL dereference in the call chain reserve_bootmem_region() -> init_reserved_page(). After memblock_init(), those late calls of memblock_reserve() operate on subregions of memblock .memory regions. As a result, these reserved regions will be set to the correct node at the first iteration of memmap_init_reserved_pages(). So set all reserved memblocks on Node#0 at initialization can avoid this panic.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2024-03-02 22:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-08-15 13:17 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2024-03-02 22:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-08-15 13:17 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-476 · NULL pointer dereference

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 6.1.56
• Linux Kernel < 6.5.6
• Linux Kernel 6.6

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.5

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

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Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2023-52506.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2023-52506. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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