CVE-2023-52850·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: hantro: Check whether reset op is defined before use The i.MX8MM/N/P does not define the .reset op since reset of the VPU is done by genpd. Check whether the .reset op is defined before calling it to avoid NULL pointer dereference. Note that the Fixes tag is set to the commit which removed the reset op from i.MX8M Hantro G2 implementation, this is because before this commit all the implementations did define the .reset op.
- Severity
- medium
- 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 a null pointer dereference in the Hantro video codec driver. This vulnerability affects i.MX8MM/N/P processors where the reset operation handler was removed but not properly checked before use. Apply the kernel update through your distribution's package manager and reboot to activate the patched kernel.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-devel && sudo rebootDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check installed kernel version: uname -r (should be 6.6.2 or later if patched)
- Verify Hantro driver is loaded: lsmod | grep hantro (if output appears, the component is present)
- Search kernel logs for NULL pointer errors: dmesg | grep -i 'null pointer\|hantro\|vpu' (exploitation would cause crash dumps)
- Confirm patch applied: grep -i 'reset op' /boot/config-$(uname -r) or verify kernel build date is after fix release
FAQ
What is CVE-2023-52850?
This vulnerability is a null pointer dereference in the Linux kernel's Hantro video codec driver on i.MX8 processors. When the reset operation handler is not defined (as in i.MX8MM/N/P variants), the driver attempts to call it without validation, causing a kernel crash.
Is CVE-2023-52850 being actively exploited?
No, CVE-2023-52850 is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and no public exploits are available. Exploitation requires local access and causes a denial of service rather than data compromise.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2023-52850?
Kernel versions 6.6.0 through 6.6.2 are affected. The vulnerability was introduced when the reset operation was removed from i.MX8M Hantro G2 implementation without proper null-checking in the caller.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2023-52850?
Run `uname -r` to check your kernel version. If it returns a version between 6.6.0 and 6.6.1 inclusive, your system is vulnerable. Also verify the Hantro driver is loaded with `lsmod | grep hantro`.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2023-52850?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed kernel package versions against the NVD database. If kernel is installed on a monitored server running versions 6.6.0 to 6.6.1, CVE-2023-52850 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/24c06295f28335ced3aad53dd4b0a0bae7b9b100
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/64f55cebb4339ae771e9e7f3f42bee2489e2fa00
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/66b4c5f980d741f3a47e4b65eeaf2797f2d59294
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/88d4b23a629ebd34f682f770cb6c2116c851f7b8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/24c06295f28335ced3aad53dd4b0a0bae7b9b100
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