CVE-2023-52860

Kernel crash via post-unregistration hotplug callbacks

Published May 21, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in affected Linux kernels allows local users to crash the kernel during hisi_hns3 PMU teardown. The uninitialization path unregisters the PMU device and then invokes CPU-hotplug callbacks through cpuhp_state_remove_instance, leaving an empty callback target that perf_pmu_migrate_context dereferences. Reachability requires local access and an HNS3 PMU teardown on supported HiSilicon hardware; the documented consequence is a kernel crash.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.24%
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 affected Linux kernels allows local users to crash the kernel during hisi_hns3 PMU teardown. The uninitialization path unregisters the PMU device and then invokes CPU-hotplug callbacks through cpuhp_state_remove_instance, leaving an empty callback target that perf_pmu_migrate_context dereferences. Reachability requires local access and an HNS3 PMU teardown on supported HiSilicon hardware; the documented consequence is a kernel crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52860
Published
May 21, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 21, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.0
  2. Affected versionversion=66637ab137b44914356a9dc7a9b3f8ebcf0b0695 <3f5827371763f2d9c70719c270055a81d030f3d0
  3. Affected versionversion=66637ab137b44914356a9dc7a9b3f8ebcf0b0695 <4589403a343bb0c72a6faf5898386ff964d4e01a
  4. Affected versionversion=66637ab137b44914356a9dc7a9b3f8ebcf0b0695 <50b560783f7f71790bcf70e9e9855155fb0af8c1
  5. Affected versionversion=66637ab137b44914356a9dc7a9b3f8ebcf0b0695 <d04ff5437a45f275db5530efb49b68d0ec851f6f

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.0; version=66637ab137b44914356a9dc7a9b3f8ebcf0b0695 <3f5827371763f2d9c70719c270055a81d030f3d0; version=66637ab137b44914356a9dc7a9b3f8ebcf0b0695 <4589403a343bb0c72a6faf5898386ff964d4e01a; version=66637ab137b44914356a9dc7a9b3f8ebcf0b0695 <50b560783f7f71790bcf70e9e9855155fb0af8c1; version=66637ab137b44914356a9dc7a9b3f8ebcf0b0695 <d04ff5437a45f275db5530efb49b68d0ec851f6f

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS: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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 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.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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