Local privilege escalation via erroneous chain deactivation
Published Sep 6, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025
Use-after-free in Linux Kernel 6.4 before 6.5 allows local users to gain elevated privileges through a failed nftables rule build. During PREPARE_ERROR handling, nft_immediate_deactivate() unbinds a bound chain and then wrongly deactivates its rules, leaving transaction-managed objects available for later use. Low-privileged local access is required; successful exploitation can execute code with kernel privileges or crash the system.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Linux Kernel 6.4 before 6.5 allows local users to gain elevated privileges through a failed nftables rule build. During PREPARE_ERROR handling, nft_immediate_deactivate() unbinds a bound chain and then wrongly deactivates its rules, leaving transaction-managed objects available for later use. Low-privileged local access is required; successful exploitation can execute code with kernel privileges or crash the system.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-4015
- Published
- Sep 6, 2023
- Updated
- Feb 13, 2025
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-416, CAPEC-233, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 6, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=6.4 <6.5
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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