CVE-2023-52846

Kernel memory corruption via freed PRP buffer

Published May 21, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in affected Linux kernels starting with 5.9 allows adjacent attackers to corrupt kernel memory through PRP LAN traffic. When prp_fill_rct() cannot extend a short socket buffer, it frees the buffer and returns NULL, but prp_create_tagged_frame() keeps using the original freed pointer. Triggering requires a configured PRP DANP master and unauthenticated Layer 2 traffic on the same LAN; subsequent transmit-path accesses can disclose or corrupt kernel memory and crash the host.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.34%
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 affected Linux kernels starting with 5.9 allows adjacent attackers to corrupt kernel memory through PRP LAN traffic. When prp_fill_rct() cannot extend a short socket buffer, it frees the buffer and returns NULL, but prp_create_tagged_frame() keeps using the original freed pointer. Triggering requires a configured PRP DANP master and unauthenticated Layer 2 traffic on the same LAN; subsequent transmit-path accesses can disclose or corrupt kernel memory and crash the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52846
Published
May 21, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1499.004
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 21, 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=451d8123f89791bb628277c0bdb4cae34a3563e6 <1787b9f0729d318d67cf7c5a95f0c3dba9a7cc18
  2. Affected versionversion=451d8123f89791bb628277c0bdb4cae34a3563e6 <6086258bd5ea7b5c706ff62da42b8e271b2401db
  3. Affected versionversion=451d8123f89791bb628277c0bdb4cae34a3563e6 <876f8ab52363f649bcc74072157dfd7adfbabc0d
  4. Affected versionversion=451d8123f89791bb628277c0bdb4cae34a3563e6 <a1a485e45d24b1cd8fe834fd6f1b06e2903827da
  5. Affected versionversion=451d8123f89791bb628277c0bdb4cae34a3563e6 <d103fb6726904e353b4773188ee3d3acb4078363
  6. Affected versionversion=451d8123f89791bb628277c0bdb4cae34a3563e6 <ddf4e04e946aaa6c458b8b6829617cc44af2bffd
  7. Affected versionversion=5.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=451d8123f89791bb628277c0bdb4cae34a3563e6 <1787b9f0729d318d67cf7c5a95f0c3dba9a7cc18; version=451d8123f89791bb628277c0bdb4cae34a3563e6 <6086258bd5ea7b5c706ff62da42b8e271b2401db; version=451d8123f89791bb628277c0bdb4cae34a3563e6 <876f8ab52363f649bcc74072157dfd7adfbabc0d; version=451d8123f89791bb628277c0bdb4cae34a3563e6 <a1a485e45d24b1cd8fe834fd6f1b06e2903827da; version=451d8123f89791bb628277c0bdb4cae34a3563e6 <d103fb6726904e353b4773188ee3d3acb4078363; version=451d8123f89791bb628277c0bdb4cae34a3563e6 <ddf4e04e946aaa6c458b8b6829617cc44af2bffd; version=5.9

Published CVSS scores

7.8CanonicalCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS: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

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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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
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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