CVE-2023-52591

Filesystem corruption via unlocked same-parent directory rename

Published Mar 6, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Improper locking in Linux ReiserFS allows local users to corrupt a mounted filesystem by racing same-parent directory renames. In reiserfs_rename() in fs/reiserfs/namei.c, same-parent renames touch the moved directory even though VFS does not lock it, allowing concurrent entry changes to corrupt the ReiserFS B-tree. Reachability requires write and execute permission on a directory in a mounted ReiserFS volume; corruption can expose or alter files and cause kernel hangs or an unusable volume.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper locking in Linux ReiserFS allows local users to corrupt a mounted filesystem by racing same-parent directory renames. In reiserfs_rename() in fs/reiserfs/namei.c, same-parent renames touch the moved directory even though VFS does not lock it, allowing concurrent entry changes to corrupt the ReiserFS B-tree. Reachability requires write and execute permission on a directory in a mounted ReiserFS volume; corruption can expose or alter files and cause kernel hangs or an unusable volume.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52591
Published
Mar 6, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 6, 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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <17e1361cb91dc1325834da95d2ab532959d2debc
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <49db9b1b86a82448dfaf3fcfefcf678dee56c8ed
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c04c162f82ac403917780eb6d1654694455d4e7c
  4. Affected versionversion=2.6.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <17e1361cb91dc1325834da95d2ab532959d2debc; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <49db9b1b86a82448dfaf3fcfefcf678dee56c8ed; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c04c162f82ac403917780eb6d1654694455d4e7c; version=2.6.12

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS: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

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

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Your stack

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