CVE-2023-54217

Kernel crash via premature MSM DRM cleanup

Published Dec 30, 2025 · Updated Dec 30, 2025

NULL-pointer dereference in MSM DRM initialization in Linux 6.3 allows attackers to crash the kernel via unspecified vectors. Early msm_drm_init error paths call msm_drm_uninit before the kms pointer is initialized, while the allocation check leaks the prior DRM device. Reachability requires an MSM DRM initialization failure; public records identify kernel interruption and a resource leak, not privilege escalation.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.18%
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 MSM DRM initialization in Linux 6.3 allows attackers to crash the kernel via unspecified vectors. Early msm_drm_init error paths call msm_drm_uninit before the kms pointer is initialized, while the allocation check leaks the prior DRM device. Reachability requires an MSM DRM initialization failure; public records identify kernel interruption and a resource leak, not privilege escalation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54217
Published
Dec 30, 2025
Updated
Dec 30, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 30, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 30, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=6.3
  2. Affected versionversion=643b7d0869cc7f1f7a5ac7ca6bd25d88f54e31d0 <9078b434587722a6f2958dc1d536af6e39634db9
  3. Affected versionversion=643b7d0869cc7f1f7a5ac7ca6bd25d88f54e31d0 <dfa70344d1b5f5ff08525a8c872c8dd5e82fc5d9

What conditions does exploitation require?

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

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.3; version=643b7d0869cc7f1f7a5ac7ca6bd25d88f54e31d0 <9078b434587722a6f2958dc1d536af6e39634db9; version=643b7d0869cc7f1f7a5ac7ca6bd25d88f54e31d0 <dfa70344d1b5f5ff08525a8c872c8dd5e82fc5d9

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

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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