CVE-2023-52847·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: bttv: fix use after free error due to btv->timeout timer There may be some a race condition between timer function bttv_irq_timeout and bttv_remove. The timer is setup in probe and there is no timer_delete operation in remove function. When it hit kfree btv, the function might still be invoked, which will cause use after free bug. This bug is found by static analysis, it may be false positive. Fix it by adding del_timer_sync invoking to the remove function. cpu0 cpu1 bttv_probe ->timer_setup ->bttv_set_dma ->mod_timer; bttv_remove ->kfree(btv); ->bttv_irq_timeout ->USE btv
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.6.2
- Published
- 2024-05-21
Affected versions
From: 6.6
Until: 6.6.2
Fixed in: 6.6.2
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.6.2 or later to resolve this use-after-free vulnerability in the bttv driver's timer handling. The fix adds proper timer cleanup during device removal to prevent the timeout handler from accessing freed memory. Systems running kernel versions 6.6 through 6.6.1 should prioritize this update.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check current kernel version: uname -r (should be 6.6.2 or later)
- Verify bttv driver is loaded: lsmod | grep bttv (if output appears, the vulnerable component is present)
- Search kernel logs for crash indicators: sudo dmesg | grep -i 'use.after.free\|bttv\|UAF'
- After patching, reboot and confirm new version: uname -r should show 6.6.2 or higher
FAQ
What is CVE-2023-52847?
This is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's bttv (Bt8xx video capture) driver where the timeout timer handler could access memory after the device structure was freed during module removal, potentially causing kernel crashes or undefined behavior.
Is CVE-2023-52847 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and there are no public exploits available. However, it should still be patched as it can cause system instability.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2023-52847?
Linux kernel versions 6.6 through 6.6.1 are affected. The vulnerability was fixed in kernel 6.6.2.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2023-52847?
Run 'uname -r' and check if the output is between 6.6 and 6.6.1, then run 'lsmod | grep bttv' to confirm the bttv driver is loaded. If both conditions are true, your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2023-52847?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Linux kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2023-52847 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1871014d6ef4812ad11ef7d838d73ce09d632267
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/20568d06f6069cb835e05eed432edf962645d226
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2f3d9198cdae1cb079ec8652f4defacd481eab2b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/51c94256a83fe4e17406c66ff3e1ad7d242d8574
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/847599fffa528b2cdec4e21b6bf7586dad982132
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