CVE-2023-52842Public exploit

Kernel data exposure via uninitialized VSOCK header

Published May 21, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

Uninitialized memory use in Linux kernel 6.3 through 6.6.1 allows local users to expose kernel data or interrupt the system via AF_VSOCK. virtio_transport_init_hdr() allocates a new socket buffer without initializing the buf_alloc and fwd_cnt fields, which virtio_transport_recv_pkt() later reads while updating transport space. Exploitation requires local AF_VSOCK access; published scoring identifies confidentiality and availability effects, but the record does not characterize the interruption as a hang, crash, reboot, or shutdown.

CVSS severity7.1
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

Uninitialized memory use in Linux kernel 6.3 through 6.6.1 allows local users to expose kernel data or interrupt the system via AF_VSOCK. virtio_transport_init_hdr() allocates a new socket buffer without initializing the buf_alloc and fwd_cnt fields, which virtio_transport_recv_pkt() later reads while updating transport space. Exploitation requires local AF_VSOCK access; published scoring identifies confidentiality and availability effects, but the record does not characterize the interruption as a hang, crash, reboot, or shutdown.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52842
Published
May 21, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-908
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 21, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 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=6.3
  2. Affected versionversion=71dc9ec9ac7d3eee785cdc986c3daeb821381e20 <0b8906fb48b99e993d6e8a12539f618f4854dd26
  3. Affected versionversion=71dc9ec9ac7d3eee785cdc986c3daeb821381e20 <34c4effacfc329aeca5635a69fd9e0f6c90b4101
  4. Affected versionversion=baddcc2c71572968cdaeee1c4ab3dc0ad90fa765 <cd12535b97dd7d18cf655ec78ce1cf1f29a576be

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.3; version=71dc9ec9ac7d3eee785cdc986c3daeb821381e20 <0b8906fb48b99e993d6e8a12539f618f4854dd26; version=71dc9ec9ac7d3eee785cdc986c3daeb821381e20 <34c4effacfc329aeca5635a69fd9e0f6c90b4101; version=baddcc2c71572968cdaeee1c4ab3dc0ad90fa765 <cd12535b97dd7d18cf655ec78ce1cf1f29a576be

Published CVSS scores

7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5SUSECVSS: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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-908Use of Uninitialized Resource

Public exploit references

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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