UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53421: Medium severity ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge vulnerability

Q: Who could trigger this issue?

Exploitation requires local access and low privileges. The issue can cause a kernel panic, resulting in a denial of service.

Q: What conditions are needed for the vulnerable path to be reached?

The affected path involves cgroup v1 block-I/O statistics being reset through blkcg_reset_stats() after blkcg_gq allocation. The reset can leave required blkg_iostat_set fields uninitialized, leading to a NULL-pointer access.

Published Sep 18, 2025

Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: blk-cgroup: Reinit blkgiostatset after clearing in blkcgresetstats() When blkgalloc() is called to allocate a blkcggq structure with the associated blkgiostatset's, there are 2 fields within blkgiostatset that requires proper initialization - blkg & sync. The former field was introduced by commit 3b8cc6298724 ("blk-cgroup: Optimize blkcgrstatflush()") while the later one was introduced by commit f73316482977 ("blk-cgroup: reimplement basic IO stats using cgroup rstat"). Unfortunately those fields in the blkgiostatset's are not properly re-initialized when they are cleared in v1's blkcgresetstats(). This can lead to a kernel panic due to NULL pointer access of the blkg pointer. The missing initialization of sync is less problematic and can be a problem in a debug kernel due to missing lockdep initialization. Fix these problems by re-initializing them after memory clearing.

Affected Software

126 affected componentsFixes available

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-oem*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15<5.15.0-1105.112~20.04.1

5.15.0-1105.112~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15<5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1

5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15<5.15.0-1106.115~20.04.1

5.15.0-1106.115~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-176.186~20.04.1

5.15.0-176.186~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15<5.15.0-1099.102~20.04.1

5.15.0-1099.102~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15<5.15.0-1100.106~20.04.1

5.15.0-1100.106~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-175.185~20.04.1

5.15.0-175.185~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15<5.15.0-1057.57~20.04.1

5.15.0-1057.57~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15<5.15.0-1102.108~20.04.1

5.15.0-1102.108~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi2*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15<5.15.0-1099.103~20.04.1

5.15.0-1099.103~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*

ubuntu/linux<5.15.0-176.186

5.15.0-176.186

ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws<5.15.0-1105.112

5.15.0-1105.112

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure<5.15.0-1110.119

5.15.0-1110.119

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<5.15.0-1114.123

5.15.0-1114.123

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.15.0-1105.114

5.15.0-1105.114

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-gke<5.15.0-1101.107

5.15.0-1101.107

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<5.15.0-1088.96

5.15.0-1088.96

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.15.0-1099.102

5.15.0-1099.102

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg<5.15.0-1100.106

5.15.0-1100.106

ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.15.0-1097.102

5.15.0-1097.102

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<5.15.0-175.185

5.15.0-175.185

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<5.15.0-1100.101

5.15.0-1100.101

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<5.15.0-1057.57

5.15.0-1057.57

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx<5.15.0-1046.46

5.15.0-1046.46

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.15.0-1102.108

5.15.0-1102.108

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.15.0-1099.102

5.15.0-1099.102

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp<5.15.0-1070.74

5.15.0-1070.74

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.15.0-1089.91

5.15.0-1089.91

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime<5.15.0-1097.99

5.15.0-1097.99

ubuntu/linux-realtime<5.15.0-1104.113

5.15.0-1104.113

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<5.15.0-1105.112+fips1

5.15.0-1105.112+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.15.0-1110.119+fips1

5.15.0-1110.119+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips<5.15.0-176.186+fips1

5.15.0-176.186+fips1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.15.0-1105.114+fips1

5.15.0-1105.114+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-intel*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-vmware*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1105.112~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1106.115~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-176.186~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1099.102~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1100.106~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-175.185~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1057.57~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1102.108~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1099.103~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-176.186
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1105.112
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1110.119
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.123
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1105.114
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1101.107
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1088.96
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1099.102
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1100.106
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1097.102
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-175.185
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1100.101
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1057.57
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1046.46
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1102.108
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1099.102
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1070.74
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1089.91
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1097.99
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1104.113
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1105.112+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1110.119+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-176.186+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1105.114+fips1
Compensating control
Re-initialize the blkg and sync fields in each blkg_iostat_set after they are cleared by v1's blkcg_reset_stats(), ensuring both fields are properly initialized during blkg_alloc().

Event History

Sep 18, 2025

CVE Published

via OSV·04:15 PM

Data Sourced

via OSV·04:15 PM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

Who could trigger this issue?

Exploitation requires local access and low privileges. The issue can cause a kernel panic, resulting in a denial of service.

What conditions are needed for the vulnerable path to be reached?

The affected path involves cgroup v1 block-I/O statistics being reset through blkcg_reset_stats() after blkcg_gq allocation. The reset can leave required blkg_iostat_set fields uninitialized, leading to a NULL-pointer access.

UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53421: Medium severity ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge vulnerability

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

Who could trigger this issue?

What conditions are needed for the vulnerable path to be reached?

Company

Resources

Contact

Frequently Asked Questions

Who could trigger this issue?

What conditions are needed for the vulnerable path to be reached?