CVE-2023-53531

EPSS 0.0%
  • Published: 2025-10-01T12:15:57.843

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

null_blk: fix poll request timeout handling

When doing io_uring benchmark on /dev/nullb0, it’s easy to crash the
kernel if poll requests timeout triggered, as reported by David. [1]

BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000008
Workqueue: kblockd blk_mq_timeout_work
RIP: 0010:null_timeout_rq+0x4e/0x91
Call Trace:
? null_timeout_rq+0x4e/0x91
blk_mq_handle_expired+0x31/0x4b
bt_iter+0x68/0x84
? bt_tags_iter+0x81/0x81
__sbitmap_for_each_set.constprop.0+0xb0/0xf2
? __blk_mq_complete_request_remote+0xf/0xf
bt_for_each+0x46/0x64
? __blk_mq_complete_request_remote+0xf/0xf
? percpu_ref_get_many+0xc/0x2a
blk_mq_queue_tag_busy_iter+0x14d/0x18e
blk_mq_timeout_work+0x95/0x127
process_one_work+0x185/0x263
worker_thread+0x1b5/0x227

This is indeed a race problem between null_timeout_rq() and null_poll().

null_poll() null_timeout_rq()
spin_lock(&nq->poll_lock)
list_splice_init(&nq->poll_list, &list)
spin_unlock(&nq->poll_lock)

while (!list_empty(&list))
req = list_first_entry()
list_del_init()

blk_mq_add_to_batch()
// req->rq_next = NULL
spin_lock(&nq->poll_lock)

// rq->queuelist->next == NULL
list_del_init(&rq->queuelist)

spin_unlock(&nq->poll_lock)

Fix these problems by setting requests state to MQ_RQ_COMPLETE under
nq->poll_lock protection, in which null_timeout_rq() can safely detect
this race and early return.

Note this patch just fix the kernel panic when request timeout happen.

[1] https://lore.kernel.org/all/3893581.1691785261@warthog.procyon.org.uk/

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How to fix CVE-2023-53531

CVE-2023-53531 is a unknown severity vulnerability affecting the affected product.

Description: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: null_blk: fix poll request timeout handling When doing io_uring benchmark on /dev/nullb0, it’s easy to crash the kernel if poll requests timeout triggered, as reported by David. [1] BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000008 Workqueue: kblockd blk_mq_timeout_work RIP: 0010:null_timeout_rq+0x4e/0x91 Call Trace: ? null_timeout_rq+0x4e/0x91 blk_mq_handle_expired+0x31/0x4b […]

Exploit Difficulty: HARD
⏱️ Time to exploit: > 4 hours
🛠️ Required skills: Advanced security expertise
💰 Public exploits: Rare or not public

How to Fix:

1 Identify affected systems

- Check if you're running the affected product

2 Immediate actions

- Update to the latest patched version
- If patching is not immediately possible: restrict network exposure, apply least-privilege access

3 Verification

- Test the fix in a staging environment first
- Review logs for signs of exploitation
- Monitor for IOCs (Indicators of Compromise)

4 Long-term prevention

- Enable automatic security updates
- Set up vulnerability monitoring
- Review and harden security configurations

Vendor Advisory: https://lore.kernel.org/all/3893581.1691785261@warthog.procyon.org.uk/

Exploit Difficulty Assessment

HARD
⏱️ Time to Exploit: > 4 hours
🛠️ Skills Required: Advanced security expertise
💰 Public Exploits: Rare or not public

Vulnerability Timeline

Oct 01, 2025
Vulnerability Published

CVE details first published to NVD database

Nov 12, 2025
Imported to Database

Added to this CVE tracking system

Detection Rules & IOCs

No specific detection rules generated for this vulnerability type.

No vendor/product data available.