CVE-2023-3338Public exploitNetwork attack vector

System crash via zero-count DECnet route reference

Published Jun 30, 2023 · Updated Mar 5, 2025

A null pointer dereference in the Linux kernel DECnet stack in Fedora Linux allows remote authenticated users to crash the system. dn_nsp_send calls sk_dst_get after DECnet route allocation leaves the destination reference count at zero, then dereferences the returned null dst pointer. Reachability requires low-privilege access and a kernel built with CONFIG_DECNET plus an assigned DECnet address; exploitation causes a kernel crash and service interruption.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability8.03%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A null pointer dereference in the Linux kernel DECnet stack in Fedora Linux allows remote authenticated users to crash the system. dn_nsp_send calls sk_dst_get after DECnet route allocation leaves the destination reference count at zero, then dereferences the returned null dst pointer. Reachability requires low-privilege access and a kernel built with CONFIG_DECNET plus an assigned DECnet address; exploitation causes a kernel crash and service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-3338
Published
Jun 30, 2023
Updated
Mar 5, 2025
Vendor
Fedora Project
Product
Fedora Linux
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 30, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 5, 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?

Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Fedora Project · Fedora LinuxAffected versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5Red Hat, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/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.

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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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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