CVE-2023-53023

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: nfc: Fix use-after-free in local_cleanup() Fix a use-after-free that occurs in kfree_skb() called from local_cleanup(). This could happen when killing nfc daemon (e.g. neard) after detaching an nfc device. When detaching an nfc device, local_cleanup() called from nfc_llcp_unregister_device() frees local->rx_pending and decreases local->ref by kref_put() in nfc_llcp_local_put(). In the terminating process, nfc daemon releases all sockets and it leads to decreasing local->ref. After the last release of local->ref, local_cleanup() called from local_release() frees local->rx_pending again, which leads to the bug. Setting local->rx_pending to NULL in local_cleanup() could prevent use-after-free when local_cleanup() is called twice. Found by a modified version of syzkaller. BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in kfree_skb() Call Trace: dump_stack_lvl (lib/dump_stack.c:106) print_address_description.constprop.0.cold (mm/kasan/report.c:306) kasan_check_range (mm/kasan/generic.c:189) kfree_skb (net/core/skbuff.c:955) local_cleanup (net/nfc/llcp_core.c:159) nfc_llcp_local_put.part.0 (net/nfc/llcp_core.c:172) nfc_llcp_local_put (net/nfc/llcp_core.c:181) llcp_sock_destruct (net/nfc/llcp_sock.c:959) __sk_destruct (net/core/sock.c:2133) sk_destruct (net/core/sock.c:2181) __sk_free (net/core/sock.c:2192) sk_free (net/core/sock.c:2203) llcp_sock_release (net/nfc/llcp_sock.c:646) __sock_release (net/socket.c:650) sock_close (net/socket.c:1365) __fput (fs/file_table.c:306) task_work_run (kernel/task_work.c:179) ptrace_notify (kernel/signal.c:2354) syscall_exit_to_user_mode_prepare (kernel/entry/common.c:278) syscall_exit_to_user_mode (kernel/entry/common.c:296) do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/common.c:86) entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:106) Allocated by task 4719: kasan_save_stack (mm/kasan/common.c:45) __kasan_slab_alloc (mm/kasan/common.c:325) slab_post_alloc_hook (mm/slab.h:766) kmem_cache_alloc_node (mm/slub.c:3497) __alloc_skb (net/core/skbuff.c:552) pn533_recv_response (drivers/nfc/pn533/usb.c:65) __usb_hcd_giveback_urb (drivers/usb/core/hcd.c:1671) usb_giveback_urb_bh (drivers/usb/core/hcd.c:1704) tasklet_action_common.isra.0 (kernel/softirq.c:797) __do_softirq (kernel/softirq.c:571) Freed by task 1901: kasan_save_stack (mm/kasan/common.c:45) kasan_set_track (mm/kasan/common.c:52) kasan_save_free_info (mm/kasan/genericdd.c:518) __kasan_slab_free (mm/kasan/common.c:236) kmem_cache_free (mm/slub.c:3809) kfree_skbmem (net/core/skbuff.c:874) kfree_skb (net/core/skbuff.c:931) local_cleanup (net/nfc/llcp_core.c:159) nfc_llcp_unregister_device (net/nfc/llcp_core.c:1617) nfc_unregister_device (net/nfc/core.c:1179) pn53x_unregister_nfc (drivers/nfc/pn533/pn533.c:2846) pn533_usb_disconnect (drivers/nfc/pn533/usb.c:579) usb_unbind_interface (drivers/usb/core/driver.c:458) device_release_driver_internal (drivers/base/dd.c:1279) bus_remove_device (drivers/base/bus.c:529) device_del (drivers/base/core.c:3665) usb_disable_device (drivers/usb/core/message.c:1420) usb_disconnect (drivers/usb/core.c:2261) hub_event (drivers/usb/core/hub.c:5833) process_one_work (arch/x86/include/asm/jump_label.h:27 include/linux/jump_label.h:212 include/trace/events/workqueue.h:108 kernel/workqueue.c:2281) worker_thread (include/linux/list.h:282 kernel/workqueue.c:2423) kthread (kernel/kthread.c:319) ret_from_fork (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:301)

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2025-03-27
Last modified 2025-04-01
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

7.8

out of 10
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-416

CVE-2023-53023 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 3.9 and later are affected. Fixed in 4.14.305, 4.19.272, 5.4.231, 5.10.166, 5.15.91, 6.1.9, 6.2 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 3.9
Fixed in
✓ 4.14.305 4.14.x ✓ 4.19.272 4.19.x ✓ 5.4.231 5.4.x ✓ 5.10.166 5.10.x ✓ 5.15.91 5.15.x ✓ 6.1.9 6.1.x ✓ 6.2

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2023-53023 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2023-53023?

    CVE-2023-53023 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10 , classified as an Use After Free flaw (CWE-416) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 3.9 onward and has been patched in 4.14.305, 4.19.272, 5.4.231 and others. CVE-2023-53023 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2023-53023?

    CVE-2023-53023 has a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2023-53023?

    Yes — CVE-2023-53023 has been patched. Fixed versions include 4.14.305, 4.19.272, 5.4.231 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 3.9 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2023-53023 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2023-53023 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (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. View CWE-416 on MITRE CWE →