What is CVE-2023-6817?

CVE-2023-6817 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, classified as a Use After Free flaw (CWE-416). CVE-2023-6817 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2023-6817?

CVE-2023-6817 has a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, rated High severity. 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-2023-6817?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2023-6817. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

Is CVE-2023-6817 actively exploited?

CVE-2023-6817 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-2023-6817

High

A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's netfilter: nf_tables component can be exploited to achieve local privilege escalation. The function nft_pipapo_walk did not skip inactive elements during set walk which could lead double deactivations of PIPAPO (Pile Packet Policies) elements, leading to use-after-free. We recommend upgrading past commit 317eb9685095678f2c9f5a8189de698c5354316a.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2023-12-18

Last modified 2026-05-12

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Awaiting data

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-2023-6817 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

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2023-6817 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Packet Storm
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/177029/Kernel-Live-Patch-Security-Notice-LSN-0100-1.html
Openwall
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/22/13
Openwall
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/22/6
Debian Security
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/01/msg00005.html
Cert-Portal
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-265688.html
Cert-Portal
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.html
Kernel patch commit
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=317eb9685095678f2c9f5a8189de698c5354316a
Patch
Kernel patch commit
https://kernel.dance/317eb9685095678f2c9f5a8189de698c5354316a
Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2023-6817

Severity High

CVSS score 7.8 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2023-12-18

Modified 2026-05-12

KEV No

Patch Awaiting data

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-6817?

CVE-2023-6817 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) . CVE-2023-6817 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2023-6817?

CVE-2023-6817 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-2023-6817?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2023-6817. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.
Is CVE-2023-6817 actively exploited?

No — CVE-2023-6817 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 →