CVE-2023-53296

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: check send stream number after wait_for_sndbuf This patch fixes a corner case where the asoc out stream count may change after wait_for_sndbuf. When the main thread in the client starts a connection, if its out stream count is set to N while the in stream count in the server is set to N - 2, another thread in the client keeps sending the msgs with stream number N - 1, and waits for sndbuf before processing INIT_ACK. However, after processing INIT_ACK, the out stream count in the client is shrunk to N - 2, the same to the in stream count in the server. The crash occurs when the thread waiting for sndbuf is awake and sends the msg in a non-existing stream(N - 1), the call trace is as below: KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000038-0x000000000000003f] Call Trace: <TASK> sctp_cmd_send_msg net/sctp/sm_sideeffect.c:1114 [inline] sctp_cmd_interpreter net/sctp/sm_sideeffect.c:1777 [inline] sctp_side_effects net/sctp/sm_sideeffect.c:1199 [inline] sctp_do_sm+0x197d/0x5310 net/sctp/sm_sideeffect.c:1170 sctp_primitive_SEND+0x9f/0xc0 net/sctp/primitive.c:163 sctp_sendmsg_to_asoc+0x10eb/0x1a30 net/sctp/socket.c:1868 sctp_sendmsg+0x8d4/0x1d90 net/sctp/socket.c:2026 inet_sendmsg+0x9d/0xe0 net/ipv4/af_inet.c:825 sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:722 [inline] sock_sendmsg+0xde/0x190 net/socket.c:745 The fix is to add an unlikely check for the send stream number after the thread wakes up from the wait_for_sndbuf.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2025-09-16
Last modified 2026-01-14
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Awaiting data

CVSS 3.1 score

5.5

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

Weakness type

CWE-476

CVE-2023-53296 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability

What is NULL Pointer Dereference?

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. Learn more on MITRE CWE

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2023-53296 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-2023-53296?

    CVE-2023-53296 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 , classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference flaw (CWE-476) . CVE-2023-53296 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2023-53296?

    CVE-2023-53296 has a CVSS score of 5.5 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:N/I:N/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2023-53296?

    No patch is currently available for CVE-2023-53296. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

  • Is CVE-2023-53296 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2023-53296 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

  • What is NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476)?

    The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. View CWE-476 on MITRE CWE →