CVE-2023-52940

Kernel crash via cgroup migration race

Published Mar 27, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Race condition in Linux 6.1 through 6.1.10 allows local users to crash the kernel during cgroup migration of a process. The lru_gen_migrate_mm() path assumes lru_gen_add_mm() has already linked the new mm_struct, so concurrent fork and cgroup migration corrupt mm_struct->lru_gen.list. A low-privileged local user must win the documented race between post-fork LRU registration and migration; successful triggering interrupts the entire host.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Race condition in Linux 6.1 through 6.1.10 allows local users to crash the kernel during cgroup migration of a process. The lru_gen_migrate_mm() path assumes lru_gen_add_mm() has already linked the new mm_struct, so concurrent fork and cgroup migration corrupt mm_struct->lru_gen.list. A low-privileged local user must win the documented race between post-fork LRU registration and migration; successful triggering interrupts the entire host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52940
Published
Mar 27, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 27, 2025CVE 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=6.1
  2. Affected versionversion=bd74fdaea146029e4fa12c6de89adbe0779348a9 <04448022311cebd30969d3aebdde765f1258b360
  3. Affected versionversion=bd74fdaea146029e4fa12c6de89adbe0779348a9 <de08eaa6156405f2e9369f06ba5afae0e4ab3b62

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.1; version=bd74fdaea146029e4fa12c6de89adbe0779348a9 <04448022311cebd30969d3aebdde765f1258b360; version=bd74fdaea146029e4fa12c6de89adbe0779348a9 <de08eaa6156405f2e9369f06ba5afae0e4ab3b62

Published CVSS scores

5.5Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5NVDCVSS: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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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