CVE-2023-52491

Kernel memory corruption via decoder cleanup race

Published Feb 29, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux mtk-jpeg decoder from 4.12 allows local users to trigger unsafe kernel memory access during decoder cleanup. The error path in mtk_jpeg_dec_device_run starts job_timeout_work after mtk_jpeg_set_dec_dst fails, although v4l2_m2m_job_finish has ended the job. Closing the decoder file descriptor or removing the module can free m2m_dev before the timeout worker reads curr_ctx, causing memory corruption or a kernel crash.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.28%
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 mtk-jpeg decoder from 4.12 allows local users to trigger unsafe kernel memory access during decoder cleanup. The error path in mtk_jpeg_dec_device_run starts job_timeout_work after mtk_jpeg_set_dec_dst fails, although v4l2_m2m_job_finish has ended the job. Closing the decoder file descriptor or removing the module can free m2m_dev before the timeout worker reads curr_ctx, causing memory corruption or a kernel crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52491
Published
Feb 29, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 29, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record 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=4.12
  2. Affected versionversion=b2f0d2724ba477d326e9d654d4db1c93e98f8b93 <1b1036c60a37a30caf6759a90fe5ecd06ec35590
  3. Affected versionversion=b2f0d2724ba477d326e9d654d4db1c93e98f8b93 <206c857dd17d4d026de85866f1b5f0969f2a109e
  4. Affected versionversion=b2f0d2724ba477d326e9d654d4db1c93e98f8b93 <43872f44eee6c6781fea1348b38885d8e78face9
  5. Affected versionversion=b2f0d2724ba477d326e9d654d4db1c93e98f8b93 <6e2f37022f0fc0893da4d85a0500c9d547fffd4c
  6. Affected versionversion=b2f0d2724ba477d326e9d654d4db1c93e98f8b93 <8254d54d00eb6cdb8367399c7f912eb8d354ecd7
  7. Affected versionversion=b2f0d2724ba477d326e9d654d4db1c93e98f8b93 <9fec4db7fff54d9b0306a332bab31eac47eeb5f6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.12; version=b2f0d2724ba477d326e9d654d4db1c93e98f8b93 <1b1036c60a37a30caf6759a90fe5ecd06ec35590; version=b2f0d2724ba477d326e9d654d4db1c93e98f8b93 <206c857dd17d4d026de85866f1b5f0969f2a109e; version=b2f0d2724ba477d326e9d654d4db1c93e98f8b93 <43872f44eee6c6781fea1348b38885d8e78face9; version=b2f0d2724ba477d326e9d654d4db1c93e98f8b93 <6e2f37022f0fc0893da4d85a0500c9d547fffd4c; version=b2f0d2724ba477d326e9d654d4db1c93e98f8b93 <8254d54d00eb6cdb8367399c7f912eb8d354ecd7; version=b2f0d2724ba477d326e9d654d4db1c93e98f8b93 <9fec4db7fff54d9b0306a332bab31eac47eeb5f6

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.

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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
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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