{"id":"CVE-2023-52864","state":"PUBLISHED","title":"platform/x86: wmi: Fix opening of char device","description":"In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nplatform/x86: wmi: Fix opening of char device\n\nSince commit fa1f68db6ca7 (\"drivers: misc: pass miscdevice pointer via\nfile private data\"), the miscdevice stores a pointer to itself inside\nfilp->private_data, which means that private_data will not be NULL when\nwmi_char_open() is called. This might cause memory corruption should\nwmi_char_open() be unable to find its driver, something which can\nhappen when the associated WMI device is deleted in wmi_free_devices().\n\nFix the problem by using the miscdevice pointer to retrieve the WMI\ndevice data associated with a char device using container_of(). This\nalso avoids wmi_char_open() picking a wrong WMI device bound to a\ndriver with the same name as the original driver.","publishedAt":"2024-05-21T15:31:55.875Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-05T09:11:43.009Z","severity":{"score":7,"label":"High","version":"3.1","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","source":"Linux"},"assigner":"Linux","products":["Linux Linux"],"affected":[{"vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","defaultStatus":"unaffected","versions":[{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"cf098e937dd125c0317a0d6f261ac2a950a233d6","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"9fb0eed09e1470cd4021ff52b2b9dfcbcee4c203","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"d426a2955e45a95b2282764105fcfb110a540453","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"e0bf076b734a2fab92d8fddc2b8b03462eee7097","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"44a96796d25809502c75771d40ee693c2e44724e","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"36d85fa7ae0d6be651c1a745191fa7ef055db43e","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"fb7b06b59c6887659c6ed0ecd3110835eecbb6a3","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"eba9ac7abab91c8f6d351460239108bef5e7a0b6","versionType":"git"}],"repo":"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git","programFiles":["drivers/platform/x86/wmi.c"]},{"vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","defaultStatus":"affected","versions":[{"version":"4.15","status":"affected"},{"version":"0","status":"unaffected","lessThan":"4.15","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"4.19.299","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"4.19.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"5.4.261","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"5.4.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"5.10.201","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"5.10.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"5.15.139","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"5.15.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.1.63","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.1.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.5.12","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.5.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.6.2","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.6.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.7","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"*","versionType":"original_commit_for_fix"}],"repo":"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git","programFiles":["drivers/platform/x86/wmi.c"]}],"references":["https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf098e937dd125c0317a0d6f261ac2a950a233d6","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9fb0eed09e1470cd4021ff52b2b9dfcbcee4c203","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d426a2955e45a95b2282764105fcfb110a540453","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e0bf076b734a2fab92d8fddc2b8b03462eee7097","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/44a96796d25809502c75771d40ee693c2e44724e","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/36d85fa7ae0d6be651c1a745191fa7ef055db43e","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fb7b06b59c6887659c6ed0ecd3110835eecbb6a3","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eba9ac7abab91c8f6d351460239108bef5e7a0b6"],"weaknesses":[],"ingestedAt":"2026-10-29T20:06:33.064Z","source":{"repository":"CVEProject/cvelistV5","path":"cves/2023/52xxx/CVE-2023-52864.json","commit":"556c9d3a8cd17e218bb8e452ba7cd619a384ff47"},"raw":{"dataType":"CVE_RECORD","dataVersion":"5.2","cveMetadata":{"cveId":"CVE-2023-52864","state":"PUBLISHED","datePublished":"2024-05-21T15:31:55.875Z","dateUpdated":"2026-08-05T09:11:43.009Z","assignerShortName":"Linux","assignerOrgId":"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67","dateReserved":"2024-05-21T15:19:24.261Z"},"containers":{"cna":{"title":"platform/x86: wmi: Fix opening of char device","descriptions":[{"lang":"en","value":"In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nplatform/x86: wmi: Fix opening of char device\n\nSince commit fa1f68db6ca7 (\"drivers: misc: pass miscdevice pointer via\nfile private data\"), the miscdevice stores a pointer to itself inside\nfilp->private_data, which means that private_data will not be NULL when\nwmi_char_open() is called. This might cause memory corruption should\nwmi_char_open() be unable to find its driver, something which can\nhappen when the associated WMI device is deleted in wmi_free_devices().\n\nFix the problem by using the miscdevice pointer to retrieve the WMI\ndevice data associated with a char device using container_of(). This\nalso avoids wmi_char_open() picking a wrong WMI device bound to a\ndriver with the same name as the original driver."}],"affected":[{"vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","defaultStatus":"unaffected","versions":[{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"cf098e937dd125c0317a0d6f261ac2a950a233d6","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"9fb0eed09e1470cd4021ff52b2b9dfcbcee4c203","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"d426a2955e45a95b2282764105fcfb110a540453","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"e0bf076b734a2fab92d8fddc2b8b03462eee7097","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"44a96796d25809502c75771d40ee693c2e44724e","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"36d85fa7ae0d6be651c1a745191fa7ef055db43e","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"fb7b06b59c6887659c6ed0ecd3110835eecbb6a3","versionType":"git"},{"version":"44b6b7661132b1b0e5fd3147ded66f1e4a817ca9","status":"affected","lessThan":"eba9ac7abab91c8f6d351460239108bef5e7a0b6","versionType":"git"}],"repo":"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git","programFiles":["drivers/platform/x86/wmi.c"]},{"vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","defaultStatus":"affected","versions":[{"version":"4.15","status":"affected"},{"version":"0","status":"unaffected","lessThan":"4.15","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"4.19.299","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"4.19.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"5.4.261","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"5.4.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"5.10.201","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"5.10.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"5.15.139","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"5.15.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.1.63","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.1.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.5.12","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.5.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.6.2","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.6.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.7","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"*","versionType":"original_commit_for_fix"}],"repo":"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git","programFiles":["drivers/platform/x86/wmi.c"]}],"references":[{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf098e937dd125c0317a0d6f261ac2a950a233d6"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9fb0eed09e1470cd4021ff52b2b9dfcbcee4c203"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d426a2955e45a95b2282764105fcfb110a540453"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e0bf076b734a2fab92d8fddc2b8b03462eee7097"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/44a96796d25809502c75771d40ee693c2e44724e"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/36d85fa7ae0d6be651c1a745191fa7ef055db43e"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fb7b06b59c6887659c6ed0ecd3110835eecbb6a3"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eba9ac7abab91c8f6d351460239108bef5e7a0b6"}],"metrics":[{"cvssV3_1":{"version":"3.1","vectorString":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","baseScore":7,"baseSeverity":"HIGH"},"scenarios":[{"lang":"en","value":"AV:L - The bug is reached by opening the local misc char device `/dev/wmi/$driver` (typically `/dev/wmi/dell-smbios`): open → misc_open → wmi_char_open. There is no network or adjacent-link path into this platform/x86 WMI code.\nAC:H - Memory corruption requires wmi_char_open() to fail its driver lookup while misc_open still succeeds, which the fix ties to wmi_free_devices() list_del before misc_deregister—i.e. concurrent ACPI/platform WMI removal (e.g. rmmod wmi). An unprivileged attacker can spam open/ioctl but cannot induce that privileged teardown, matching other module-unload races scored AC:H.\nPR:L - The char device is registered with mode 0444, so any local unprivileged user can open it and issue read/ioctl; no init-namespace root or capability is required on the attacker’s side of the race.\nUI:N - The attacker opens and operates on the WMI char device in their own process; no victim action is required. Concurrent administrative device removal is Attack Complexity, not User Interaction.\nS:U - Type confusion / use-after-free stays inside the host kernel’s WMI/misc authority and does not cross a VM, IOMMU, or sandbox boundary.\nC:H - Failed lookup leaves filp->private_data as a miscdevice* that read/ioctl treat as struct wmi_block, causing out-of-bounds reads of adjacent heap; if the wblock is freed while the fd is held this becomes a UAF disclosure primitive, scored High per kernel guidance.\nI:H - The same type confusion/UAF makes wmi_ioctl() mutex_lock, dereference handler_data, and copy_from_user() through misinterpreted pointers—yielding heap corruption and an arbitrary-write primitive after reclaim, so Integrity is High.\nA:H - Misinterpreting a miscdevice as a wmi_block (or using a freed wblock) reliably leads to invalid memory access, oops/panic, or hang on corrupted locks; any such kernel crash/UAF is Availability High."}]}],"providerMetadata":{"shortName":"Linux","orgId":"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67","dateUpdated":"2026-08-05T09:11:43.009Z"},"cpeApplicability":[{"nodes":[{"operator":"OR","negate":false,"cpeMatch":[{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.15","versionEndExcluding":"4.19.299"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.15","versionEndExcluding":"5.4.261"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.15","versionEndExcluding":"5.10.201"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.15","versionEndExcluding":"5.15.139"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.15","versionEndExcluding":"6.1.63"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.15","versionEndExcluding":"6.5.12"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.15","versionEndExcluding":"6.6.2"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.15","versionEndExcluding":"6.7"}]}]}],"x_generator":{"engine":"bippy-1.2.0"}},"adp":[{"title":"CISA ADP Vulnrichment","metrics":[{"other":{"type":"ssvc","content":{"id":"CVE-2023-52864","role":"CISA Coordinator","options":[{"Exploitation":"none"},{"Automatable":"no"},{"Technical Impact":"partial"}],"version":"2.0.3","timestamp":"2024-05-22T18:21:10.578430Z"}}}],"providerMetadata":{"shortName":"CISA-ADP","orgId":"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0","dateUpdated":"2024-06-04T17:24:07.966Z"}},{"title":"CVE Program Container","references":[{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf098e937dd125c0317a0d6f261ac2a950a233d6","tags":["x_transferred"]},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9fb0eed09e1470cd4021ff52b2b9dfcbcee4c203","tags":["x_transferred"]},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d426a2955e45a95b2282764105fcfb110a540453","tags":["x_transferred"]},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e0bf076b734a2fab92d8fddc2b8b03462eee7097","tags":["x_transferred"]},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/44a96796d25809502c75771d40ee693c2e44724e","tags":["x_transferred"]},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/36d85fa7ae0d6be651c1a745191fa7ef055db43e","tags":["x_transferred"]},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fb7b06b59c6887659c6ed0ecd3110835eecbb6a3","tags":["x_transferred"]},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eba9ac7abab91c8f6d351460239108bef5e7a0b6","tags":["x_transferred"]}],"providerMetadata":{"shortName":"CVE","orgId":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108","dateUpdated":"2024-08-02T23:11:36.054Z"}}]}}}