CVE-2023-52868

Kernel memory corruption via thermal device ID formatting

Published May 21, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

Out-of-bounds write in the Linux kernel thermal core allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through an extreme thermal-device ID. Unbounded sprintf calls write the ida_alloc-generated dev->id into device-name arrays without ensuring that the result fits. Reaching the fault requires an unusually large allocated ID after extensive thermal-device registrations; the public record documents no practical trigger.

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

Out-of-bounds write in the Linux kernel thermal core allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through an extreme thermal-device ID. Unbounded sprintf calls write the ida_alloc-generated dev->id into device-name arrays without ensuring that the result fits. Reaching the fault requires an unusually large allocated ID after extensive thermal-device registrations; the public record documents no practical trigger.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52868
Published
May 21, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-787
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=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <0f6b3be28c4d62ef6498133959c72266629bea97
  2. Affected versionversion=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <3091ab943dfc7b2578599b0fe203350286fab5bb
  3. Affected versionversion=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <3a8f4e58e1ee707b4f46a1000b40b86ea3dd509c
  4. Affected versionversion=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <3f795fb35c2d8a637efe76b4518216c9319b998c
  5. Affected versionversion=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <6ad1bf47fbe5750c4d5d8e41337665e193e2c521
  6. Affected versionversion=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <77ff34a56b695e228e6daf30ee30be747973d6e8
  7. Affected versionversion=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <b55f0a9f865be75ca1019aad331f3225f7b50ce8
  8. Affected versionversion=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <c99626092efca3061b387043d4a7399bf75fbdd5
  9. Affected versionversion=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <edbd6bbe40ac524a8f2273ffacc53edf14f3c686
  10. Affected versionversion=2.6.25

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <0f6b3be28c4d62ef6498133959c72266629bea97; version=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <3091ab943dfc7b2578599b0fe203350286fab5bb; version=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <3a8f4e58e1ee707b4f46a1000b40b86ea3dd509c; version=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <3f795fb35c2d8a637efe76b4518216c9319b998c; version=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <6ad1bf47fbe5750c4d5d8e41337665e193e2c521; version=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <77ff34a56b695e228e6daf30ee30be747973d6e8; version=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <b55f0a9f865be75ca1019aad331f3225f7b50ce8; version=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <c99626092efca3061b387043d4a7399bf75fbdd5; version=203d3d4aa482339b4816f131f713e1b8ee37f6dd <edbd6bbe40ac524a8f2273ffacc53edf14f3c686; version=2.6.25

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-787Out-of-bounds Write

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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