CVE-2023-53005: trace_events_hist: add check for return value of 'create_hist_field'

Severity: medium (CVSS 5.5 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.3% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2025-03-27 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-476

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: trace_events_hist: add check for return value of 'create_hist_field' Function 'create_hist_field' is called recursively at trace_events_hist.c:1954 and can return NULL-value that's why we have to check it to avoid null pointer dereference. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.

Affected products

Linux kernel: from 4.17 before 4.19.272; from 4.20 before 5.4.231; from 5.5 before 5.10.166; from 5.11 before 5.15.91; from 5.16 before 6.1.9; 6.2-rc1, 6.2-rc2, 6.2-rc3, 6.2-rc4, 6.2-rc5 — fixed in 4.19.272, 5.10.166, 5.15.91, 5.4.231, 6.1.9

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 4.19.272, 5.10.166, 5.15.91, 5.4.231. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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