CVE-2023-53812

Kernel crash via null runtime-PM device

Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

NULL-pointer dereference in Linux allows attackers to crash the kernel during MediaTek video decoder driver probe on affected builds. The mtk_vcodec_probe path calls pm_runtime_disable through dev->pm.dev even when that subdevice pointer is null, causing __pm_runtime_disable to enter an invalid spinlock path. Reachability requires a MediaTek video codec platform whose architecture supports subdevices; the resulting crash interrupts driver initialization and can disrupt system startup.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.19%
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 allows attackers to crash the kernel during MediaTek video decoder driver probe on affected builds. The mtk_vcodec_probe path calls pm_runtime_disable through dev->pm.dev even when that subdevice pointer is null, causing __pm_runtime_disable to enter an invalid spinlock path. Reachability requires a MediaTek video codec platform whose architecture supports subdevices; the resulting crash interrupts driver initialization and can disrupt system startup.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53812
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

  1. Dec 9, 2025CVE 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=5.18
  2. Affected versionversion=ba31a5b39400a7b500b3f022a351218b179038dc <03e9773388a27242e6139f3d5b5fd00112adb5c3
  3. Affected versionversion=ba31a5b39400a7b500b3f022a351218b179038dc <34fe290090ecfcf405cad9d0e0ddc8b8246ffaa2
  4. Affected versionversion=ba31a5b39400a7b500b3f022a351218b179038dc <9d2f13fb47dcab6d094f34ecfd6a879a409722b3
  5. Affected versionversion=ba31a5b39400a7b500b3f022a351218b179038dc <c692a44bc5146eb487f40798a1ea8dd57fd2607d

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.18; version=ba31a5b39400a7b500b3f022a351218b179038dc <03e9773388a27242e6139f3d5b5fd00112adb5c3; version=ba31a5b39400a7b500b3f022a351218b179038dc <34fe290090ecfcf405cad9d0e0ddc8b8246ffaa2; version=ba31a5b39400a7b500b3f022a351218b179038dc <9d2f13fb47dcab6d094f34ecfd6a879a409722b3; version=ba31a5b39400a7b500b3f022a351218b179038dc <c692a44bc5146eb487f40798a1ea8dd57fd2607d

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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)
VectorUnavailable
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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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