PCI/ASPM: Disable ASPM on MFD function removal to avoid use-after-free
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: PCI/ASPM: Disable ASPM on MFD function removal to avoid use-after-free Struct pcie_link_state->downstream is a pointer to the pci_dev of function 0. Previously we retained that pointer when removing function 0, and subsequent ASPM policy changes dereferenced it, resulting in a use-after-free warning from KASAN, e.g.: # echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:03:00.0/remove # echo powersave > /sys/module/pcie_aspm/parameters/policy BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in pcie_config_aspm_link+0x42d/0x500 Call Trace: kasan_report+0xae/0xe0 pcie_config_aspm_link+0x42d/0x500 pcie_aspm_set_policy+0x8e/0x1a0 param_attr_store+0x162/0x2c0 module_attr_store+0x3e/0x80 PCIe spec r6.0, sec 7.5.3.7, recommends that software program the same ASPM Control value in all functions of multi-function devices. Disable ASPM and free the pcie_link_state when any child function is removed so we can discard the dangling pcie_link_state->downstream pointer and maintain the same ASPM Control configuration for all functions. [bhelgaas: commit log and comment]
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
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 | 4.11 and later | 5.4.251, 5.10.188, 5.15.121, 6.1.39, 6.3.13, 6.4.4, 6.5 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.11 and later Fixed in 5.4.251, 5.10.188, 5.15.121, 6.1.39, 6.3.13, 6.4.4, 6.5 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.11 to before 5.4.251; 5.5 to before 5.10.188; 5.11 to before 5.15.121; 5.16 to before 6.1.39; 6.2 to before 6.3.13; 6.4 to before 6.4.4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.11 to before 5.4.251; 5.5 to before 5.10.188; 5.11 to before 5.15.121; 5.16 to before 6.1.39; 6.2 to before 6.3.13; 6.4 to before 6.4.4 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.4.251, 5.10.188, 5.15.121, 6.1.39, 6.3.13, 6.4.4, 6.5
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 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-53446
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-62j3-36wr-4gw5
References
Patch 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/666e7f9d60cee23077ea3e6331f6f8a19f7ea03f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7badf4d6f49a358a01ab072bbff88d3ee886c33b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9856c0de49052174ab474113f4ba40c02aaee086
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7aecdd47910c51707696e8b0e045b9f88bd4230f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d51d2eeae4ce54d542909c4d9d07bf371a78592c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4203722d51afe3d239e03f15cc73efdf023a7103
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/456d8aa37d0f56fc9e985e812496e861dcd6f2f2
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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-2023-53446 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-53446 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-62j3-36wr-4gw5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2023-53446 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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