CVE-2023-53319
Unknown Unknown - Not Provided
BaseFortify

Publication date: 2025-09-16

Last updated on: 2025-12-01

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: arm64: Handle kvm_arm_init failure correctly in finalize_pkvm Currently there is no synchronisation between finalize_pkvm() and kvm_arm_init() initcalls. The finalize_pkvm() proceeds happily even if kvm_arm_init() fails resulting in the following warning on all the CPUs and eventually a HYP panic: | kvm [1]: IPA Size Limit: 48 bits | kvm [1]: Failed to init hyp memory protection | kvm [1]: error initializing Hyp mode: -22 | | <snip> | | WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 0 at arch/arm64/kvm/pkvm.c:226 _kvm_host_prot_finalize+0x30/0x50 | Modules linked in: | CPU: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper/0 Not tainted 6.4.0 #237 | Hardware name: FVP Base RevC (DT) | pstate: 634020c5 (nZCv daIF +PAN -UAO +TCO +DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) | pc : _kvm_host_prot_finalize+0x30/0x50 | lr : __flush_smp_call_function_queue+0xd8/0x230 | | Call trace: | _kvm_host_prot_finalize+0x3c/0x50 | on_each_cpu_cond_mask+0x3c/0x6c | pkvm_drop_host_privileges+0x4c/0x78 | finalize_pkvm+0x3c/0x5c | do_one_initcall+0xcc/0x240 | do_initcall_level+0x8c/0xac | do_initcalls+0x54/0x94 | do_basic_setup+0x1c/0x28 | kernel_init_freeable+0x100/0x16c | kernel_init+0x20/0x1a0 | ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 | Failed to finalize Hyp protection: -22 | dtb=fvp-base-revc.dtb | kvm [95]: nVHE hyp BUG at: arch/arm64/kvm/hyp/nvhe/mem_protect.c:540! | kvm [95]: nVHE call trace: | kvm [95]: [<ffff800081052984>] __kvm_nvhe_hyp_panic+0xac/0xf8 | kvm [95]: [<ffff800081059644>] __kvm_nvhe_handle_host_mem_abort+0x1a0/0x2ac | kvm [95]: [<ffff80008105511c>] __kvm_nvhe_handle_trap+0x4c/0x160 | kvm [95]: [<ffff8000810540fc>] __kvm_nvhe___skip_pauth_save+0x4/0x4 | kvm [95]: ---[ end nVHE call trace ]--- | kvm [95]: Hyp Offset: 0xfffe8db00ffa0000 | Kernel panic - not syncing: HYP panic: | PS:a34023c9 PC:0000f250710b973c ESR:00000000f2000800 | FAR:ffff000800cb00d0 HPFAR:000000000880cb00 PAR:0000000000000000 | VCPU:0000000000000000 | CPU: 3 PID: 95 Comm: kworker/u16:2 Tainted: G W 6.4.0 #237 | Hardware name: FVP Base RevC (DT) | Workqueue: rpciod rpc_async_schedule | Call trace: | dump_backtrace+0xec/0x108 | show_stack+0x18/0x2c | dump_stack_lvl+0x50/0x68 | dump_stack+0x18/0x24 | panic+0x138/0x33c | nvhe_hyp_panic_handler+0x100/0x184 | new_slab+0x23c/0x54c | ___slab_alloc+0x3e4/0x770 | kmem_cache_alloc_node+0x1f0/0x278 | __alloc_skb+0xdc/0x294 | tcp_stream_alloc_skb+0x2c/0xf0 | tcp_sendmsg_locked+0x3d0/0xda4 | tcp_sendmsg+0x38/0x5c | inet_sendmsg+0x44/0x60 | sock_sendmsg+0x1c/0x34 | xprt_sock_sendmsg+0xdc/0x274 | xs_tcp_send_request+0x1ac/0x28c | xprt_transmit+0xcc/0x300 | call_transmit+0x78/0x90 | __rpc_execute+0x114/0x3d8 | rpc_async_schedule+0x28/0x48 | process_one_work+0x1d8/0x314 | worker_thread+0x248/0x474 | kthread+0xfc/0x184 | ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 | SMP: stopping secondary CPUs | Kernel Offset: 0x57c5cb460000 from 0xffff800080000000 | PHYS_OFFSET: 0x80000000 | CPU features: 0x00000000,1035b7a3,ccfe773f | Memory Limit: none | ---[ end Kernel panic - not syncing: HYP panic: | PS:a34023c9 PC:0000f250710b973c ESR:00000000f2000800 | FAR:ffff000800cb00d0 HPFAR:000000000880cb00 PAR:0000000000000000 | VCPU:0000000000000000 ]--- Fix it by checking for the successfull initialisation of kvm_arm_init() in finalize_pkvm() before proceeding any futher.
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Meta Information
Published
2025-09-16
Last Modified
2025-12-01
Generated
2026-05-07
AI Q&A
2025-09-16
EPSS Evaluated
2026-05-05
NVD
CVE-2023-53319
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 3 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel From 6.4 (inc) to 6.4.8 (exc)
linux linux_kernel 6.5
linux linux_kernel 6.5
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-NVD-CWE-noinfo
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AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?

This vulnerability occurs in the Linux kernel's KVM module for arm64 architecture. There is no synchronization between the finalize_pkvm() and kvm_arm_init() initialization calls. As a result, finalize_pkvm() can proceed even if kvm_arm_init() fails, leading to warnings on all CPUs and eventually causing a hypervisor (HYP) panic and kernel panic. The issue is fixed by ensuring that finalize_pkvm() checks for the successful initialization of kvm_arm_init() before continuing.


How can this vulnerability impact me? :

This vulnerability can cause a system-wide kernel panic on affected arm64 Linux systems using KVM, leading to system crashes and denial of service. The failure to properly handle initialization errors in the KVM hypervisor can result in instability and inability to run virtual machines reliably.


How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?

This vulnerability can be detected by checking the system logs for specific warning messages and kernel panic traces related to KVM on arm64. Look for warnings such as 'IPA Size Limit: 48 bits', 'Failed to init hyp memory protection', 'error initializing Hyp mode: -22', and kernel panic messages mentioning 'HYP panic' and 'kvm_arm_init failure'. You can use commands like 'dmesg | grep -i kvm' or 'journalctl -k | grep -i kvm' to search for these messages in the kernel logs.


What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?

Immediate mitigation involves updating the Linux kernel to a version where the fix is applied, which ensures that finalize_pkvm() checks the successful initialization of kvm_arm_init() before proceeding. Until the update is applied, monitoring for the described warnings and avoiding workloads that trigger KVM on affected arm64 systems may reduce risk.


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