CVE-2023-0045Public exploit

Process-secret disclosure via delayed branch prediction barrier

Published Apr 25, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Spectre-BTI mitigation bypass in Linux Kernel allows local users to read process secrets through branch-target injection. The ib_prctl_set path updates thread flags and SPEC_CTRL but defers the IBPB until rescheduling, leaving preloaded BTB entries effective after prctl. Exploitation requires local code execution and compatible x86 simultaneous multithreading; a flush-and-reload side channel reveals victim data.

CVSS severity4.7
Medium
EPSS probability2.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Spectre-BTI mitigation bypass in Linux Kernel allows local users to read process secrets through branch-target injection. The ib_prctl_set path updates thread flags and SPEC_CTRL but defers the IBPB until rescheduling, leaving preloaded BTB entries effective after prctl. Exploitation requires local code execution and compatible x86 simultaneous multithreading; a flush-and-reload side channel reveals victim data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-0045
Published
Apr 25, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-610, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 25, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=9137bb27e60e <a664ec9158eeddd75121d39c9a0758016097fa96

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=9137bb27e60e <a664ec9158eeddd75121d39c9a0758016097fa96

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.7Google Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-610Externally Controlled Reference to a Resource in Another Sphere
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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