CVE-2023-53428

powercap: arm_scmi: Remove recursion while parsing zones

Published Sep 18, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

powercap: arm_scmi: Remove recursion while parsing zones

Powercap zones can be defined as arranged in a hierarchy of trees and when
registering a zone with powercap_register_zone(), the kernel powercap
subsystem expects this to happen starting from the root zones down to the
leaves; on the other side, de-registration by powercap_deregister_zone()
must begin from the leaf zones.

Available SCMI powercap zones are retrieved dynamically from the platform
at probe time and, while any defined hierarchy between the zones is
described properly in the zones descriptor, the platform returns the
availables zones with no particular well-defined order: as a consequence,
the trees possibly composing the hierarchy of zones have to be somehow
walked properly to register the retrieved zones from the root.

Currently the ARM SCMI Powercap driver walks the zones using a recursive
algorithm; this approach, even though correct and tested can lead to kernel
stack overflow when processing a returned hierarchy of zones composed by
particularly high trees.

Avoid possible kernel stack overflow by substituting the recursive approach
with an iterative one supported by a dynamically allocated stack-like data
structure.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2025-29875 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: powercap: arm_scmi: Remove recursion while parsing zones Powercap zones can be defined as arranged in a hierarchy of trees and when registering a zone with powercap_register_zone(), the kernel powercap subsystem expects this to happen starting from the root zones down to the leaves; on the other side, de-registration by powercap_deregister_zone() must begin from the leaf zones. Available SCMI powercap zones are retrieved dynamically from the platform at probe time and, while any defined hierarchy between the zones is described properly in the zones descriptor, the platform returns the availables zones with no particular well-defined order: as a consequence, the trees possibly composing the hierarchy of zones have to be somehow walked properly to register the retrieved zones from the root. Currently the ARM SCMI Powercap driver walks the zones using a recursive algorithm; this approach, even though correct and tested can lead to kernel stack overflow when processing a returned hierarchy of zones composed by particularly high trees. Avoid possible kernel stack overflow by substituting the recursive approach with an iterative one supported by a dynamically allocated stack-like data structure.
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-674
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: powercap: arm_scmi: Remove recursion while parsing zones Powercap zones can be defined as arranged in a hierarchy of trees and when registering a zone with powercap_register_zone(), the kernel powercap subsystem expects this to happen starting from the root zones down to the leaves; on the other side, de-registration by powercap_deregister_zone() must begin from the leaf zones. Available SCMI powercap zones are retrieved dynamically from the platform at probe time and, while any defined hierarchy between the zones is described properly in the zones descriptor, the platform returns the availables zones with no particular well-defined order: as a consequence, the trees possibly composing the hierarchy of zones have to be somehow walked properly to register the retrieved zones from the root. Currently the ARM SCMI Powercap driver walks the zones using a recursive algorithm; this approach, even though correct and tested can lead to kernel stack overflow when processing a returned hierarchy of zones composed by particularly high trees. Avoid possible kernel stack overflow by substituting the recursive approach with an iterative one supported by a dynamically allocated stack-like data structure.
Title powercap: arm_scmi: Remove recursion while parsing zones
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
May 11, 2026, 7:44 PM
Reserved
Sep 17, 2025, 2:54 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Sep 18, 2025, 4:15 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 6:45 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Sep 18, 2025, 12:00 AM