CVE-2023-1990

System crash via unfinished ST NCI work

Published Apr 12, 2023 · Updated Mar 19, 2025

Use-after-free in the Linux Kernel before 6.3-rc3 allows physically proximate attackers to crash the system during ST NCI device removal. The ndlc_remove path frees ndlc->ndev while llt_ndlc_sm_work can remain scheduled, allowing the worker to pass the freed pointer to nci_recv_frame. Exploitation requires an ST NCI I2C or SPI device and a device-removal race; the bounded consequence is a kernel crash.

CVSS severity4.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.23%
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 Linux Kernel before 6.3-rc3 allows physically proximate attackers to crash the system during ST NCI device removal. The ndlc_remove path frees ndlc->ndev while llt_ndlc_sm_work can remain scheduled, allowing the worker to pass the freed pointer to nci_recv_frame. Exploitation requires an ST NCI I2C or SPI device and a device-removal race; the bounded consequence is a kernel crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-1990
Published
Apr 12, 2023
Updated
Mar 19, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 12, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 19, 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=Linux Kernel prior to Kernel 6.3 RC3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=Linux Kernel prior to Kernel 6.3 RC3

Published CVSS scores

4.7NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.7CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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