dmaengine: fix NULL pointer in channel unregistration function
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 14 fixed, 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-476.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: dmaengine: fix NULL pointer in channel unregistration function __dma_async_device_channel_register() can fail. In case of failure, chan->local is freed (with free_percpu()), and chan->local is nullified. When dma_async_device_unregister() is called (because of managed API or intentionally by DMA controller driver), channels are unconditionally unregistered, leading to this NULL pointer: [ 1.318693] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 00000000000000d0 [...] [ 1.484499] Call trace: [ 1.486930] device_del+0x40/0x394 [ 1.490314] device_unregister+0x20/0x7c [ 1.494220] __dma_async_device_channel_unregister+0x68/0xc0 Look at dma_async_device_register() function error path, channel device unregistration is done only if chan->local is not NULL. Then add the same condition at the beginning of __dma_async_device_channel_unregister() function, to avoid NULL pointer issue whatever the API used to reach this function.
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 | 5.6 and later | 5.10.210, 5.15.149, 6.1.76, 6.6.15, 6.7.3, 6.8 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.6 and later Fixed in 5.10.210, 5.15.149, 6.1.76, 6.6.15, 6.7.3, 6.8 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.210, 5.15.149, 6.1.76, 6.6.15, 6.7.3, 6.8
Red Hat 4 advisories
- RHSA-2025:7526 Released 2025-05-14 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-427.68.1.el9_4, libperf-5.14.0-427.68.1.el9_4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.4) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-427.68.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-427.68.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-427.68.1.el9_4 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4) bpftool-7.3.0-427.68.1.el9_4, kernel-5.14.0-427.68.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-5.14.0-427.68.1.el9_4 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.68.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.68.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.68.1.el9_4 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.68.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.68.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.68.1.el9_4 +11
- RHSA-2024:9315 Released 2024-11-12 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-cross-headers-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, libperf-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) bpftool-7.4.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-64k-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 +30
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 +11
- RHSA-2024:8856 Released 2024-11-05 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-553.27.1.el8_10, kernel-4.18.0-553.27.1.el8_10, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-553.27.1.el8_10 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-553.27.1.el8_10
Show 1 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2024:8870 Released 2024-11-05 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.27.1.rt7.368.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.27.1.rt7.368.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.27.1.rt7.368.el8_10 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.27.1.rt7.368.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.27.1.rt7.368.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.27.1.rt7.368.el8_10 +7
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. 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 CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:9315 |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:7526 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:9315 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:7526 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:8856 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:9315 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:7526 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:8856 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:8870 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:8870 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:9315 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:7526 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:9315 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:7526 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-52492
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6hr8-534p-8986
- 2026-10-29 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Patch 6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9de69732dde4e443c1c7f89acbbed2c45a6a8e17
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/047fce470412ab64cb7345f9ff5d06919078ad79
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2ab32986a0b9e329eb7f8f04dd57cc127f797c08
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7f0ccfad2031eddcc510caf4e57f2d4aa2d8a50b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9263fd2a63487c6d04cbb7b74a48fb12e1e352d0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f5c24d94512f1b288262beda4d3dcb9629222fc7
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Sources
- CVE-2023-52492 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-52492 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-6hr8-534p-8986 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2023-52492 · 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