CVE-2023-52896

Kernel crash via quota-rescan disable race

Published Aug 21, 2024 · Updated May 23, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in the Linux btrfs quota-rescan worker allows local users to crash the kernel through concurrent quota ioctls. The worker starts a transaction with fs_info->quota_root after quota disable clears that pointer while a newly queued rescan exits without processing work. Exploitation requires enabled btrfs quotas, local low-privileged access, and successful timing of rescan against quota disable.

CVSS severity4.7
Medium
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

NULL pointer dereference in the Linux btrfs quota-rescan worker allows local users to crash the kernel through concurrent quota ioctls. The worker starts a transaction with fs_info->quota_root after quota disable clears that pointer while a newly queued rescan exits without processing work. Exploitation requires enabled btrfs quotas, local low-privileged access, and successful timing of rescan against quota disable.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52896
Published
Aug 21, 2024
Updated
May 23, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 21, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 23, 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=26b3901d20bf9da2c6a00cb1fb48932166f80a45 <89ac597e3e807b91e2ebd6a7c36fec7b97290233
  2. Affected versionversion=31198e58c09e21d4f65c49d2361f76b87aca4c3f
  3. Affected versionversion=32747e01436aac8ef93fe85b5b523b4f3b52f040 <3bd43374857103ba3cac751d6d4afa8d83b5d92a
  4. Affected versionversion=5.10.99 <5.10.165
  5. Affected versionversion=5.15.22 <5.15.90
  6. Affected versionversion=5.16.8 <5.17
  7. Affected versionversion=5.17
  8. Affected versionversion=5.4.178 <5.4.230
  9. Affected versionversion=89d4cca583fc9594ee7d1a0bc986886d6fb587e6 <64287cd456a22373053998c1fccf14b651e9cbbd
  10. Affected versionversion=e804861bd4e69cc5fe1053eedcb024982dde8e48 <1004fc90f0d79a4b7d9e3d432729914f472f9ad1
  11. Affected versionversion=e804861bd4e69cc5fe1053eedcb024982dde8e48 <b7adbf9ada3513d2092362c8eac5cddc5b651f5c

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=26b3901d20bf9da2c6a00cb1fb48932166f80a45 <89ac597e3e807b91e2ebd6a7c36fec7b97290233; version=31198e58c09e21d4f65c49d2361f76b87aca4c3f; version=32747e01436aac8ef93fe85b5b523b4f3b52f040 <3bd43374857103ba3cac751d6d4afa8d83b5d92a; version=5.10.99 <5.10.165; version=5.15.22 <5.15.90; version=5.16.8 <5.17; version=5.17; version=5.4.178 <5.4.230; version=89d4cca583fc9594ee7d1a0bc986886d6fb587e6 <64287cd456a22373053998c1fccf14b651e9cbbd; version=e804861bd4e69cc5fe1053eedcb024982dde8e48 <1004fc90f0d79a4b7d9e3d432729914f472f9ad1; version=e804861bd4e69cc5fe1053eedcb024982dde8e48 <b7adbf9ada3513d2092362c8eac5cddc5b651f5c

Published CVSS scores

4.7UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.7NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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