CVE-2023-52873

Kernel crash via unchecked clock-data allocation

Published May 21, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

NULL-pointer dereference in Linux 5.4 through 5.4.260 and other affected stable branches allows local users to crash the system. The clk_mt6779_apmixed_probe and clk_mt6779_top_probe paths pass a failed mtk_alloc_clk_data allocation into clock-registration helpers instead of returning an error. Exploitation requires local access, the MT6779 clock driver, and an allocation failure; the reported consequence is service interruption, not data access or privilege gain.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.22%
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 5.4 through 5.4.260 and other affected stable branches allows local users to crash the system. The clk_mt6779_apmixed_probe and clk_mt6779_top_probe paths pass a failed mtk_alloc_clk_data allocation into clock-registration helpers instead of returning an error. Exploitation requires local access, the MT6779 clock driver, and an allocation failure; the reported consequence is service interruption, not data access or privilege gain.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52873
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=5.4
  2. Affected versionversion=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <1f57f78fbacf630430bf954e5a84caafdfea30c0
  3. Affected versionversion=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <3994387ba3564976731179c4d4a6d7850ddda71a
  4. Affected versionversion=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <a90239551abc181687f8c0ba60b276f7d75c141e
  5. Affected versionversion=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <ca6d565a2319d69d9766e6ecbb5af827fc4afb2b
  6. Affected versionversion=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <df1c4a9efa3f5b6fb5e0ae63890230dbe2190b7e
  7. Affected versionversion=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <f6a7c51cf07a399ec067d39f0a22f1817c5c7d2b
  8. Affected versionversion=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <fbe466f06d4ea18745da0d57540539b7b36936ae

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.4; version=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <1f57f78fbacf630430bf954e5a84caafdfea30c0; version=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <3994387ba3564976731179c4d4a6d7850ddda71a; version=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <a90239551abc181687f8c0ba60b276f7d75c141e; version=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <ca6d565a2319d69d9766e6ecbb5af827fc4afb2b; version=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <df1c4a9efa3f5b6fb5e0ae63890230dbe2190b7e; version=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <f6a7c51cf07a399ec067d39f0a22f1817c5c7d2b; version=710774e048614c761a39a98e8d0fa75f688c83b6 <fbe466f06d4ea18745da0d57540539b7b36936ae

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

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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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