CVE-2023-23001

Local system crash via incorrect error-pointer test

Published Mar 1, 2023 · Updated Mar 20, 2025

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel before 5.16.3 allows local users to crash the system through the MediaTek UFS driver. In ufs_mtk_init_va09_pwr_ctrl(), a NULL test accepts regulator_get()'s error pointer as valid and enables VA09 power-control operations on it. Reachability requires the MediaTek UFS VA09 path and a failed regulator lookup; public sources do not identify the local action that triggers that failure.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel before 5.16.3 allows local users to crash the system through the MediaTek UFS driver. In ufs_mtk_init_va09_pwr_ctrl(), a NULL test accepts regulator_get()'s error pointer as valid and enables VA09 power-control operations on it. Reachability requires the MediaTek UFS VA09 path and a failed regulator lookup; public sources do not identify the local action that triggers that failure.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-23001
Published
Mar 1, 2023
Updated
Mar 20, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 1, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 20, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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