Kernel Oops via error-pointer dereference
Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026
Error-pointer dereference in the Linux clocking-wizard driver allows attackers to trigger a kernel Oops during device initialization. The clk_wzrd_register_divider() function dereferences the error pointer returned when devm_clk_hw_register() fails instead of returning that error. Reachability requires registration of a Xilinx clocking-wizard divider to fail; no attacker-controlled path or impact beyond the Oops is documented.
Summary
What happened
Error-pointer dereference in the Linux clocking-wizard driver allows attackers to trigger a kernel Oops during device initialization. The clk_wzrd_register_divider() function dereferences the error pointer returned when devm_clk_hw_register() fails instead of returning that error. Reachability requires registration of a Xilinx clocking-wizard divider to fail; no attacker-controlled path or impact beyond the Oops is documented.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-53807
- Published
- Dec 9, 2025
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- Unavailable
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 9, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=5.13
- Affected versionversion=5a853722eb32188647a541802d51d0db423b9baf <25dbdfb7b71ef8601d00c6d9a2b1a96de28b30c5
- Affected versionversion=5a853722eb32188647a541802d51d0db423b9baf <2f276dd9c0f835242836d9f6823035158ce2585c
- Affected versionversion=5a853722eb32188647a541802d51d0db423b9baf <9c632a6396505a019ea6d12b5ab45e659a542a93
- Affected versionversion=5a853722eb32188647a541802d51d0db423b9baf <b35cb0c05b8dafe23ae5e8b605a91b88bcf4aba7
- Affected versionversion=5a853722eb32188647a541802d51d0db423b9baf <f078a65ebf930f4305e3c415a8338d22391642c9
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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