CVE-2023-1838

Kernel crash and disclosure via descriptor race

Published Apr 5, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Use-after-free in the virtio network backend in Linux Kernel before 5.18 allows local users to crash the system or leak kernel data. The vhost_net_set_backend path reopens a shared file descriptor when get_tap_ptr_ring runs, so a concurrent descriptor-table change can substitute a different struct file after the socket was pinned. Reaching the race requires local low-privileged access to the vhost network backend; successful exploitation can panic the host or disclose kernel memory.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the virtio network backend in Linux Kernel before 5.18 allows local users to crash the system or leak kernel data. The vhost_net_set_backend path reopens a shared file descriptor when get_tap_ptr_ring runs, so a concurrent descriptor-table change can substitute a different struct file after the socket was pinned. Reaching the race requires local low-privileged access to the vhost network backend; successful exploitation can panic the host or disclose kernel memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-1838
Published
Apr 5, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 5, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 2024Record 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=Linux Kernel prior to kernel 5.18 25

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=Linux Kernel prior to kernel 5.18 25

Published CVSS scores

7.1Canonical UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
7.1Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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