CVE-2023-53480

kobject: Add sanity check for kset->kobj.ktype in kset_register()

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

kobject: Add sanity check for kset->kobj.ktype in kset_register()

When I register a kset in the following way:
static struct kset my_kset;
kobject_set_name(&my_kset.kobj, "my_kset");
ret = kset_register(&my_kset);

A null pointer dereference exception is occurred:
[ 4453.568337] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at \
virtual address 0000000000000028
... ...
[ 4453.810361] Call trace:
[ 4453.813062] kobject_get_ownership+0xc/0x34
[ 4453.817493] kobject_add_internal+0x98/0x274
[ 4453.822005] kset_register+0x5c/0xb4
[ 4453.825820] my_kobj_init+0x44/0x1000 [my_kset]
... ...

Because I didn't initialize my_kset.kobj.ktype.

According to the description in Documentation/core-api/kobject.rst:
- A ktype is the type of object that embeds a kobject. Every structure
that embeds a kobject needs a corresponding ktype.

So add sanity check to make sure kset->kobj.ktype is not NULL.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories available
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-476
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

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'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
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': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: kobject: Add sanity check for kset->kobj.ktype in kset_register() When I register a kset in the following way: static struct kset my_kset; kobject_set_name(&my_kset.kobj, "my_kset"); ret = kset_register(&my_kset); A null pointer dereference exception is occurred: [ 4453.568337] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at \ virtual address 0000000000000028 ... ... [ 4453.810361] Call trace: [ 4453.813062] kobject_get_ownership+0xc/0x34 [ 4453.817493] kobject_add_internal+0x98/0x274 [ 4453.822005] kset_register+0x5c/0xb4 [ 4453.825820] my_kobj_init+0x44/0x1000 [my_kset] ... ... Because I didn't initialize my_kset.kobj.ktype. According to the description in Documentation/core-api/kobject.rst: - A ktype is the type of object that embeds a kobject. Every structure that embeds a kobject needs a corresponding ktype. So add sanity check to make sure kset->kobj.ktype is not NULL.
Title kobject: Add sanity check for kset->kobj.ktype in kset_register()
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Nov 5, 2026, 8:31 PM
Reserved
Oct 1, 2025, 11:39 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Oct 1, 2025, 12:15 PM
Modified
Nov 5, 2026, 9:17 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 1, 2025, 12:00 AM