efivarfs: force RO when remounting if SetVariable is not supported
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 14 fixed, 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-476.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: efivarfs: force RO when remounting if SetVariable is not supported If SetVariable at runtime is not supported by the firmware we never assign a callback for that function. At the same time mount the efivarfs as RO so no one can call that. However, we never check the permission flags when someone remounts the filesystem as RW. As a result this leads to a crash looking like this: $ mount -o remount,rw /sys/firmware/efi/efivars $ efi-updatevar -f PK.auth PK [ 303.279166] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000000 [ 303.280482] Mem abort info: [ 303.280854] ESR = 0x0000000086000004 [ 303.281338] EC = 0x21: IABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits [ 303.282016] SET = 0, FnV = 0 [ 303.282414] EA = 0, S1PTW = 0 [ 303.282821] FSC = 0x04: level 0 translation fault [ 303.283771] user pgtable: 4k pages, 48-bit VAs, pgdp=000000004258c000 [ 303.284913] [0000000000000000] pgd=0000000000000000, p4d=0000000000000000 [ 303.286076] Internal error: Oops: 0000000086000004 [#1] PREEMPT SMP [ 303.286936] Modules linked in: qrtr tpm_tis tpm_tis_core crct10dif_ce arm_smccc_trng rng_core drm fuse ip_tables x_tables ipv6 [ 303.288586] CPU: 1 PID: 755 Comm: efi-updatevar Not tainted 6.3.0-rc1-00108-gc7d0c4695c68 #1 [ 303.289748] Hardware name: Unknown Unknown Product/Unknown Product, BIOS 2023.04-00627-g88336918701d 04/01/2023 [ 303.291150] pstate: 60400005 (nZCv daif +PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 303.292123] pc : 0x0 [ 303.292443] lr : efivar_set_variable_locked+0x74/0xec [ 303.293156] sp : ffff800008673c10 [ 303.293619] x29: ffff800008673c10 x28: ffff0000037e8000 x27: 0000000000000000 [ 303.294592] x26: 0000000000000800 x25: ffff000002467400 x24: 0000000000000027 [ 303.295572] x23: ffffd49ea9832000 x22: ffff0000020c9800 x21: ffff000002467000 [ 303.296566] x20: 0000000000000001 x19: 00000000000007fc x18: 0000000000000000 [ 303.297531] x17: 0000000000000000 x16: 0000000000000000 x15: 0000aaaac807ab54 [ 303.298495] x14: ed37489f673633c0 x13: 71c45c606de13f80 x12: 47464259e219acf4 [ 303.299453] x11: ffff000002af7b01 x10: 0000000000000003 x9 : 0000000000000002 [ 303.300431] x8 : 0000000000000010 x7 : ffffd49ea8973230 x6 : 0000000000a85201 [ 303.301412] x5 : 0000000000000000 x4 : ffff0000020c9800 x3 : 00000000000007fc [ 303.302370] x2 : 0000000000000027 x1 : ffff000002467400 x0 : ffff000002467000 [ 303.303341] Call trace: [ 303.303679] 0x0 [ 303.303938] efivar_entry_set_get_size+0x98/0x16c [ 303.304585] efivarfs_file_write+0xd0/0x1a4 [ 303.305148] vfs_write+0xc4/0x2e4 [ 303.305601] ksys_write+0x70/0x104 [ 303.306073] __arm64_sys_write+0x1c/0x28 [ 303.306622] invoke_syscall+0x48/0x114 [ 303.307156] el0_svc_common.constprop.0+0x44/0xec [ 303.307803] do_el0_svc+0x38/0x98 [ 303.308268] el0_svc+0x2c/0x84 [ 303.308702] el0t_64_sync_handler+0xf4/0x120 [ 303.309293] el0t_64_sync+0x190/0x194 [ 303.309794] Code: ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????????) [ 303.310612] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- Fix this by adding a .reconfigure() function to the fs operations which we can use to check the requested flags and deny anything that's not RO if the firmware doesn't implement SetVariable at runtime.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 5.7.11 to before 5.8 | 5.8 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 5.8 and later | 5.10.209, 5.15.148, 6.1.75, 6.6.14, 6.7.2, 6.8 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.7.11 to before 5.8 Fixed in 5.8 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.8 and later Fixed in 5.10.209, 5.15.148, 6.1.75, 6.6.14, 6.7.2, 6.8 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.8.0 to before 5.10.209; 5.11.0 to before 5.15.148; 5.16.0 to before 6.1.75; 6.2.0 to before 6.6.14; 6.7.0 to before 6.7.2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.8.0 to before 5.10.209; 5.11.0 to before 5.15.148; 5.16.0 to before 6.1.75; 6.2.0 to before 6.6.14; 6.7.0 to before 6.7.2 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.8
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.209, 5.15.148, 6.1.75, 6.6.14, 6.7.2, 6.8
Red Hat 5 advisories
- RHSA-2024:6567 Released 2024-09-11 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-427.35.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-427.35.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-427.35.1.el9_4 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) bpftool-7.3.0-427.35.1.el9_4, kernel-5.14.0-427.35.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-5.14.0-427.35.1.el9_4 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-427.35.1.el9_4, libperf-5.14.0-427.35.1.el9_4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.35.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.35.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.35.1.el9_4 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.35.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.35.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.35.1.el9_4 +9
- RHSA-2024:5672 Released 2024-08-21 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.2) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-284.80.1.el9_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.2) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-284.80.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-284.80.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-284.80.1.el9_2 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.2) bpftool-7.0.0-284.80.1.el9_2, kernel-5.14.0-284.80.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-5.14.0-284.80.1.el9_2 +29
- RHSA-2024:5673 Released 2024-08-21 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.80.1.rt14.365.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.80.1.rt14.365.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.80.1.rt14.365.el9_2 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.80.1.rt14.365.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.80.1.rt14.365.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.80.1.rt14.365.el9_2 +11
Show 2 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2024:5101 Released 2024-08-08 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-553.16.1.el8_10, kernel-4.18.0-553.16.1.el8_10, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-553.16.1.el8_10 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-553.16.1.el8_10
- RHSA-2024:5102 Released 2024-08-08 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.16.1.rt7.357.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.16.1.rt7.357.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.16.1.rt7.357.el8_10 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.16.1.rt7.357.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.16.1.rt7.357.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.16.1.rt7.357.el8_10 +7
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:5672 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:6567 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:5672 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:5101 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:6567 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:5672 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:5101 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:6567 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:5102 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:6567 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:5102 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:6567 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:5673 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:5673 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.2)
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-52463
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-w5fp-p5rq-w697
References
Patch 6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/94c742324ed7e42c5bd6a9ed22e4ec6d764db4d8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2aa141f8bc580f8f9811dfe4e0e6009812b73826
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d4a9aa7db574a0da64307729cc031fb68597aa8b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0049fe7e4a85849bdd778cdb72e51a791ff3d737
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d4a714873db0866cc471521114eeac4a5072d548
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0e8d2444168dd519fea501599d150e62718ed2fe
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- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
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- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2023-52463 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-52463 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-w5fp-p5rq-w697 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2023-52463 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences