CVE-2023-52687Network attack vector

Kernel memory corruption via unchecked DMA mapping failure

Published May 17, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Unchecked return handling in the Linux kernel safexcel driver allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory or crash affected appliances. In safexcel_cipher.c, the request path continues after dma_map_sg() returns zero, so the engine can consume stale or unmapped scatter-gather DMA addresses; the patch adds failure checks and unwinds earlier mappings. Exposure requires an EIP97/EIP197 safexcel engine and a reachable IPsec security association; crafted ESP traffic can trigger memory corruption, disclosure, or a kernel panic without target credentials.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.60%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unchecked return handling in the Linux kernel safexcel driver allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory or crash affected appliances. In safexcel_cipher.c, the request path continues after dma_map_sg() returns zero, so the engine can consume stale or unmapped scatter-gather DMA addresses; the patch adds failure checks and unwinds earlier mappings. Exposure requires an EIP97/EIP197 safexcel engine and a reachable IPsec security association; crafted ESP traffic can trigger memory corruption, disclosure, or a kernel panic without target credentials.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52687
Published
May 17, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-252, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 17, 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=49186a7d9e46ff132a0ed9b721ad6b6a58dba6c1 <4c0ac81a172a69a7733290915276672787e904ec
  2. Affected versionversion=49186a7d9e46ff132a0ed9b721ad6b6a58dba6c1 <8084b788c2fb1260f7d44c032d5124680b20d2b2
  3. Affected versionversion=49186a7d9e46ff132a0ed9b721ad6b6a58dba6c1 <87e02063d07708cac5bfe9fd3a6a242898758ac8
  4. Affected versionversion=49186a7d9e46ff132a0ed9b721ad6b6a58dba6c1 <fc0b785802b856566df3ac943e38a072557001c4
  5. Affected versionversion=6.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=49186a7d9e46ff132a0ed9b721ad6b6a58dba6c1 <4c0ac81a172a69a7733290915276672787e904ec; version=49186a7d9e46ff132a0ed9b721ad6b6a58dba6c1 <8084b788c2fb1260f7d44c032d5124680b20d2b2; version=49186a7d9e46ff132a0ed9b721ad6b6a58dba6c1 <87e02063d07708cac5bfe9fd3a6a242898758ac8; version=49186a7d9e46ff132a0ed9b721ad6b6a58dba6c1 <fc0b785802b856566df3ac943e38a072557001c4; version=6.1

Published CVSS scores

9.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/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.

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-252Unchecked Return Value
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application 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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