CVE-2023-52436

Kernel memory exposure via unterminated f2fs xattr list

Published Feb 20, 2024 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Out-of-bounds access in the Linux f2fs implementation allows local users to expose kernel memory by setting crafted extended attributes. The __f2fs_setxattr path writes a rebuilt attribute list without an explicit zero terminator, so later walkers can parse stale unused bytes as entries. The caller needs local write access to xattrs on an f2fs inode; consequences include kernel-memory disclosure and a kernel crash.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds access in the Linux f2fs implementation allows local users to expose kernel memory by setting crafted extended attributes. The __f2fs_setxattr path writes a rebuilt attribute list without an explicit zero terminator, so later walkers can parse stale unused bytes as entries. The caller needs local write access to xattrs on an f2fs inode; consequences include kernel-memory disclosure and a kernel crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52436
Published
Feb 20, 2024
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 20, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 15, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=3.8
  2. Affected versionversion=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <12cf91e23b126718a96b914f949f2cdfeadc7b2a
  3. Affected versionversion=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <16ae3132ff7746894894927c1892493693b89135
  4. Affected versionversion=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <2525d1ba225b5c167162fa344013c408e8b4de36
  5. Affected versionversion=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <32a6cfc67675ee96fe107aeed5af9776fec63f11
  6. Affected versionversion=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <3e47740091b05ac8d7836a33afd8646b6863ca52
  7. Affected versionversion=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <5de9e9dd1828db9b8b962f7ca42548bd596deb8a
  8. Affected versionversion=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <e26b6d39270f5eab0087453d9b544189a38c8564
  9. Affected versionversion=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <f6c30bfe5a49bc38cae985083a11016800708fea

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.8; version=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <12cf91e23b126718a96b914f949f2cdfeadc7b2a; version=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <16ae3132ff7746894894927c1892493693b89135; version=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <2525d1ba225b5c167162fa344013c408e8b4de36; version=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <32a6cfc67675ee96fe107aeed5af9776fec63f11; version=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <3e47740091b05ac8d7836a33afd8646b6863ca52; version=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <5de9e9dd1828db9b8b962f7ca42548bd596deb8a; version=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <e26b6d39270f5eab0087453d9b544189a38c8564; version=af48b85b8cd3fbb12c9b6759c16db6d69c0b03da <f6c30bfe5a49bc38cae985083a11016800708fea

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo