tracing/synthetic: Fix races on freeing last_cmd
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
tracing/synthetic: Fix races on freeing last_cmd
Currently, the "last_cmd" variable can be accessed by multiple processes
asynchronously when multiple users manipulate synthetic_events node
at the same time, it could lead to use-after-free or double-free.
This patch add "lastcmd_mutex" to prevent "last_cmd" from being accessed
asynchronously.
================================================================
It's easy to reproduce in the KASAN environment by running the two
scripts below in different shells.
script 1:
while :
do
echo -n -e '\x88' > /sys/kernel/tracing/synthetic_events
done
script 2:
while :
do
echo -n -e '\xb0' > /sys/kernel/tracing/synthetic_events
done
================================================================
double-free scenario:
process A process B
------------------- ---------------
1.kstrdup last_cmd
2.free last_cmd
3.free last_cmd(double-free)
================================================================
use-after-free scenario:
process A process B
------------------- ---------------
1.kstrdup last_cmd
2.free last_cmd
3.tracing_log_err(use-after-free)
================================================================
Appendix 1. KASAN report double-free:
BUG: KASAN: double-free in kfree+0xdc/0x1d4
Free of addr * by task sh/4879
Call trace:
...
kfree+0xdc/0x1d4
create_or_delete_synth_event+0x60/0x1e8
trace_parse_run_command+0x2bc/0x4b8
synth_events_write+0x20/0x30
vfs_write+0x200/0x830
...
Allocated by task 4879:
...
kstrdup+0x5c/0x98
create_or_delete_synth_event+0x6c/0x1e8
trace_parse_run_command+0x2bc/0x4b8
synth_events_write+0x20/0x30
vfs_write+0x200/0x830
...
Freed by task 5464:
...
kfree+0xdc/0x1d4
create_or_delete_synth_event+0x60/0x1e8
trace_parse_run_command+0x2bc/0x4b8
synth_events_write+0x20/0x30
vfs_write+0x200/0x830
...
================================================================
Appendix 2. KASAN report use-after-free:
BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in strlen+0x5c/0x7c
Read of size 1 at addr * by task sh/5483
sh: CPU: 7 PID: 5483 Comm: sh
...
__asan_report_load1_noabort+0x34/0x44
strlen+0x5c/0x7c
tracing_log_err+0x60/0x444
create_or_delete_synth_event+0xc4/0x204
trace_parse_run_command+0x2bc/0x4b8
synth_events_write+0x20/0x30
vfs_write+0x200/0x830
...
Allocated by task 5483:
...
kstrdup+0x5c/0x98
create_or_delete_synth_event+0x80/0x204
trace_parse_run_command+0x2bc/0x4b8
synth_events_write+0x20/0x30
vfs_write+0x200/0x830
...
Freed by task 5480:
...
kfree+0xdc/0x1d4
create_or_delete_synth_event+0x74/0x204
trace_parse_run_command+0x2bc/0x4b8
synth_events_write+0x20/0x30
vfs_write+0x200/0x830
...
This issue can be reached with local access to the system, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs low-level privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability high.
The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVE-2023-53478 is recorded against 2 packages.
Published on 1 October 2025 and last revised on 12 August 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. A vendor advisory or fix has been published. Record sourced from NVD.
git.kernel.org (Web)
git.kernel.org (Web)
git.kernel.org (Web)
github.com (Advisory)
nvd.nist.gov (Advisory)
git.kernel.org (Package)
kernel has other advisories on record. If you are patching this one, these are worth checking on the same host:
Each distribution ships its own build and its own fixed version. Pick the one you run:
Details
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Affected Packages
| Software | From version | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| kernel | 6.2.0 | 6.2.11 |
| linux-kernel | — | — |
References
Similar Threats
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