CVE-2023-53446

PCI/ASPM: Disable ASPM on MFD function removal to avoid use-after-free

High · published September 18, 2025

CVSS v3.1
7.8
EPSS
0%
Percentile
4.0
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

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

PCI/ASPM: Disable ASPM on MFD function removal to avoid use-after-free

Struct pcie_link_state->downstream is a pointer to the pci_dev of function

0. Previously we retained that pointer when removing function 0, and

subsequent ASPM policy changes dereferenced it, resulting in a

use-after-free warning from KASAN, e.g.:

# echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:03:00.0/remove

# echo powersave > /sys/module/pcie_aspm/parameters/policy

BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in pcie_config_aspm_link+0x42d/0x500

Call Trace:

kasan_report+0xae/0xe0

pcie_config_aspm_link+0x42d/0x500

pcie_aspm_set_policy+0x8e/0x1a0

param_attr_store+0x162/0x2c0

module_attr_store+0x3e/0x80

PCIe spec r6.0, sec 7.5.3.7, recommends that software program the same ASPM

Control value in all functions of multi-function devices.

Disable ASPM and free the pcie_link_state when any child function is

removed so we can discard the dangling pcie_link_state->downstream pointer

and maintain the same ASPM Control configuration for all functions.

[bhelgaas: commit log and comment]

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
7.8 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.00152 · 4.0th percentile
Published
2025-09-18T16:04Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 18 SEP 16:04Z
    PCI/ASPM: Disable ASPM on MFD function removal to avoid use-after-free
    cvelistv5