Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ubi: ubiwlput_peb: Fix...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ubi: ubi_wl_put_peb: Fix infinite loop when wear-leveling work failed
Following process will trigger an infinite loop in ubi_wl_put_peb():
ubifs_bgt ubi_bgt
ubifs_leb_unmap
ubi_leb_unmap
ubi_eba_unmap_leb
ubi_wl_put_peb wear_leveling_worker
e1 = rb_entry(rb_first(&ubi->used)
e2 = get_peb_for_wl(ubi)
ubi_io_read_vid_hdr // return err (flash fault)
out_error:
ubi->move_from = ubi->move_to = NULL
wl_entry_destroy(ubi, e1)
ubi->lookuptbl[e->pnum] = NULL
retry:
e = ubi->lookuptbl[pnum]; // return NULL
if (e == ubi->move_from) { // NULL == NULL gets true
goto retry; // infinite loop !!!
$ top
PID USER PR NI VIRT RES SHR S %CPU %MEM COMMAND
7676 root 20 0 0 0 0 R 100.0 0.0 ubifs_bgt0_0
Fix it by:
- Letting ubi_wl_put_peb() returns directly if wearl leveling entry has
been removed from 'ubi->lookuptbl'. - Using 'ubi->wl_lock' protecting wl entry deletion to preventing an
use-after-free problem for wl entry in ubi_wl_put_peb().
Fetch a reproducer in [Link].
Impact
CVE-2023-53481 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2023-53481? CVE-2023-53481 is a medium-severity security vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet.
- How severe is CVE-2023-53481? CVE-2023-53481 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2023-53481? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2023-53481 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2023-53481 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2023-53481 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2023-53481 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.