Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: can: gs_usb: fix time stamp...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
can: gs_usb: fix time stamp counter initialization
If the gs_usb device driver is unloaded (or unbound) before the
interface is shut down, the USB stack first calls the struct
usb_driver::disconnect and then the struct net_device_ops::ndo_stop
callback.
In gs_usb_disconnect() all pending bulk URBs are killed, i.e. no more
RX'ed CAN frames are send from the USB device to the host. Later in
gs_can_close() a reset control message is send to each CAN channel to
remove the controller from the CAN bus. In this race window the USB
device can still receive CAN frames from the bus and internally queue
them to be send to the host.
At least in the current version of the candlelight firmware, the queue
of received CAN frames is not emptied during the reset command. After
loading (or binding) the gs_usb driver, new URBs are submitted during
the struct net_device_ops::ndo_open callback and the candlelight
firmware starts sending its already queued CAN frames to the host.
However, this scenario was not considered when implementing the
hardware timestamp function. The cycle counter/time counter
infrastructure is set up (gs_usb_timestamp_init()) after the USBs are
submitted, resulting in a NULL pointer dereference if
timecounter_cyc2time() (via the call chain:
gs_usb_receive_bulk_callback() -> gs_usb_set_timestamp() ->
gs_usb_skb_set_timestamp()) is called too early.
Move the gs_usb_timestamp_init() function before the URBs are
submitted to fix this problem.
For a comprehensive solution, we need to consider gs_usb devices with
more than 1 channel. The cycle counter/time counter infrastructure is
setup per channel, but the RX URBs are per device. Once gs_can_open()
of a channel has been called, and URBs have been submitted, the
gs_usb_receive_bulk_callback() can be called for all available
channels, even for channels that are not running, yet. As cycle
counter/time counter has not set up, this will again lead to a NULL
pointer dereference.
Convert the cycle counter/time counter from a "per channel" to a "per
device" functionality. Also set it up, before submitting any URBs to
the device.
Further in gs_usb_receive_bulk_callback(), don't process any URBs for
not started CAN channels, only resubmit the URB.
Impact
The application dereferences a null pointer, causing a crash. Typical impact: denial of service via crash.
CVE-2023-53523 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-2023-53523? CVE-2023-53523 is a medium-severity null pointer dereference vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet. The application dereferences a null pointer, causing a crash.
- How severe is CVE-2023-53523? CVE-2023-53523 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-2023-53523? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2023-53523 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2023-53523 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2023-53523 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-2023-53523 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.