What is CVE-2023-5197?

CVE-2023-5197 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 6.6 out of 10, classified as a Use After Free flaw (CWE-416), affecting Linux kernel versions from 5.9 onward and patched in 6.6. CVE-2023-5197 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2023-5197?

CVE-2023-5197 has a CVSS score of 6.6 out of 10, rated Medium severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2023-5197?

Yes, CVE-2023-5197 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.6. If you are running Linux kernel 5.9 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2023-5197 actively exploited?

CVE-2023-5197 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is Use After Free (CWE-416)?

The product references memory after it has been freed, which may cause it to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/416.html

CVE-2023-5197

Medium

A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's netfilter: nf_tables component can be exploited to achieve local privilege escalation. Addition and removal of rules from chain bindings within the same transaction causes leads to use-after-free. We recommend upgrading past commit f15f29fd4779be8a418b66e9d52979bb6d6c2325.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2023-09-27

Last modified 2025-12-11

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

6.6

out of 10

Medium

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

Low

Availability

High

Vector string

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-416

CVE-2023-5197 is a Use After Free vulnerability

What is Use After Free?

The product references memory after it has been freed, which may cause it to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 5.9 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.6 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 5.9

Fixed in

✓ 6.6 6.6.x

References

4 total

Kernel
https://kernel.dance/f15f29fd4779be8a418b66e9d52979bb6d6c2325

Patch Vendor Advisory
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=f15f29fd4779be8a418b66e9d52979bb6d6c2325

Patch
Packet Storm
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175963/Kernel-Live-Patch-Security-Notice-LSN-0099-1.html

Third Party Advisory
Debian Security
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/01/msg00005.html

Mailing List Third Party Advisory

Details

CVE ID CVE-2023-5197

Severity Medium

CVSS score 6.6 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2023-09-27

Modified 2025-12-11

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-5197?

CVE-2023-5197 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 6.6 out of 10 , classified as an Use After Free flaw (CWE-416) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.9 onward and has been patched in 6.6. CVE-2023-5197 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2023-5197?

CVE-2023-5197 has a CVSS score of 6.6 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2023-5197?

Yes. CVE-2023-5197 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.6. If you are running Linux kernel 5.9 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2023-5197 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2023-5197 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.