CVE-2023-53039 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically within the Intel Integrated Sensor Hub (ISH) Human Interface Device (HID) driver, known as intel-ish-hid. The flaw arises from improper handling of device resources during the initialization (probe) phase of the ISHTP (Intel Sensor Hub Transport Protocol) device. When the device receives a reset notify IPC message, the interrupt service routine (ISR) schedules a work function and passes a pointer to the ISHTP device (ishtp_dev) via a global variable. However, if the device probe (ish_probe()) fails, the device resources managed by devm (device-managed resource allocator) are freed, including the ishtp_dev pointer. Despite this, the scheduled work function is not canceled, leading to a use-after-free condition when the work function attempts to access the now-freed ishtp_dev pointer. This use-after-free can cause undefined behavior such as kernel crashes, memory corruption, or potentially arbitrary code execution within kernel context. The fix involves replacing the current work scheduling with devm_work_autocancel(), which ensures that the scheduled work is automatically canceled if the probe fails, preventing the use-after-free scenario. This vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 and likely other versions containing the same code pattern. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet.

The vulnerability impacts the Linux kernel, which is widely used across servers, desktops, embedded systems, and cloud infrastructure in Europe. Exploitation could lead to kernel crashes (denial of service), memory corruption, or privilege escalation if an attacker can trigger the use-after-free condition. This could compromise system stability and security, particularly on systems using Intel ISH hardware with the vulnerable driver. European organizations relying on Linux-based infrastructure, including government agencies, financial institutions, telecommunications providers, and critical infrastructure operators, could face service disruptions or security breaches if exploited. The impact is heightened in environments where untrusted users or processes have the ability to send IPC messages to the ISH HID driver, potentially enabling local privilege escalation or kernel-level compromise. Although no active exploits are known, the vulnerability’s presence in the kernel codebase means that attackers with local access could develop exploits, posing a risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems.

1. Immediate application of the official Linux kernel patch that replaces the vulnerable work scheduling with devm_work_autocancel() to ensure automatic cancellation of scheduled work on probe failure. 2. For organizations unable to patch immediately, consider disabling the Intel ISH HID driver if it is not required, to reduce the attack surface. 3. Implement strict access controls and sandboxing to limit which users or processes can interact with the ISH HID IPC interface, minimizing the risk of exploitation. 4. Monitor kernel logs and system behavior for signs of crashes or anomalies related to the ISH HID driver. 5. Maintain up-to-date kernel versions and subscribe to Linux kernel security advisories to quickly respond to any emerging exploits. 6. For critical systems, conduct thorough testing of kernel updates in staging environments before deployment to avoid operational disruptions.