CVE-2023-52923

Local privilege escalation via set-element GC race

Published Jan 20, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux kernel nf_tables allows local users to gain kernel privileges via concurrent set operations against timed-out elements. The async garbage collector's busy-mark path removes set elements while control-plane deletion or flushing can deactivate them again, causing double deactivation and stale-object access. The path requires CAP_NET_ADMIN, including through enabled user and network namespaces, and supports kernel memory disclosure, writes, or a panic.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.26%
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 Linux kernel nf_tables allows local users to gain kernel privileges via concurrent set operations against timed-out elements. The async garbage collector's busy-mark path removes set elements while control-plane deletion or flushing can deactivate them again, causing double deactivation and stale-object access. The path requires CAP_NET_ADMIN, including through enabled user and network namespaces, and supports kernel memory disclosure, writes, or a panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52923
Published
Jan 20, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 20, 2025CVE 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=4.1
  2. Affected versionversion=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <146c76866795553dbc19998f36718d7986ad302b
  3. Affected versionversion=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <479a2cf5259347d6a1f658b0f791d27a34908e91
  4. Affected versionversion=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <c357648929c8dff891502349769aafb8f0452bc2
  5. Affected versionversion=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <cb4d00b563675ba8ff6ef94b077f58d816f68ba3
  6. Affected versionversion=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <df650d6a4bf47248261b61ef6b174d7c54034d15
  7. Affected versionversion=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <e4d71d6a9c7db93f7bf20c3a0f0659d63d7de681
  8. Affected versionversion=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <f6c383b8c31a93752a52697f8430a71dcbc46adf

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.1; version=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <146c76866795553dbc19998f36718d7986ad302b; version=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <479a2cf5259347d6a1f658b0f791d27a34908e91; version=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <c357648929c8dff891502349769aafb8f0452bc2; version=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <cb4d00b563675ba8ff6ef94b077f58d816f68ba3; version=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <df650d6a4bf47248261b61ef6b174d7c54034d15; version=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <e4d71d6a9c7db93f7bf20c3a0f0659d63d7de681; version=9d0982927e79049675cb6c6c04a0ebb3dad5a434 <f6c383b8c31a93752a52697f8430a71dcbc46adf

Published CVSS scores

7.8LinuxCVSS: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

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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

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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