CVE-2023-53005 trace_events_hist: add check for return value of 'create_hist_field'

What is CVE-2023-53005?

CVE-2023-53005 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 27 Mar 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

trace_events_hist: add check for return value of 'create_hist_field'

Function 'create_hist_field' is called recursively at trace_events_hist.c:1954 and can return NULL-value that's why we have to check it to avoid null pointer dereference.

Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.

Weakness: CWE-476

Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53005?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2023-53005?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Is CVE-2023-53005 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53005 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

• CVE-2026-53266 Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2013-6282 Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2022-0185 Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2013-2094 Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2026-53362 Linux Kernel Unspecified Exploited High 7.8

All Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-53005, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53005, GHSA-hcxq-v393-38jh, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53005.