CVE-2023-53000

Kernel-memory disclosure via speculative netlink array indexing

Published Mar 27, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Improper array-index validation in Linux kernel netlink processing allows local users to disclose kernel memory through a Spectre v1 side channel. The __nla_validate_parse() and validate_nla() paths validate an attribute type, then use that attacker-controlled value as an array index without array_index_nospec(). Exploitation requires local code execution on a processor susceptible to speculative-execution side channels; the reported consequence is kernel-memory disclosure, not memory modification.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Improper array-index validation in Linux kernel netlink processing allows local users to disclose kernel memory through a Spectre v1 side channel. The __nla_validate_parse() and validate_nla() paths validate an attribute type, then use that attacker-controlled value as an array index without array_index_nospec(). Exploitation requires local code execution on a processor susceptible to speculative-execution side channels; the reported consequence is kernel-memory disclosure, not memory modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53000
Published
Mar 27, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-129
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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.6.15
  2. Affected versionversion=bfa83a9e03cf8d501c6272999843470afecb32ed <3e5082b1c66c7783fbcd79b5b178573230e528ff
  3. Affected versionversion=bfa83a9e03cf8d501c6272999843470afecb32ed <41b74e95f297ac360ca7ed6bf200100717cb6c45
  4. Affected versionversion=bfa83a9e03cf8d501c6272999843470afecb32ed <539ca5dcbc91134bbe2c45677811c31d8b030d2d
  5. Affected versionversion=bfa83a9e03cf8d501c6272999843470afecb32ed <992e4ff7116a77968039277b5d6aaa535c2f2184
  6. Affected versionversion=bfa83a9e03cf8d501c6272999843470afecb32ed <f0950402e8c76e7dcb08563f1b4e8000fbc62455

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.15; version=bfa83a9e03cf8d501c6272999843470afecb32ed <3e5082b1c66c7783fbcd79b5b178573230e528ff; version=bfa83a9e03cf8d501c6272999843470afecb32ed <41b74e95f297ac360ca7ed6bf200100717cb6c45; version=bfa83a9e03cf8d501c6272999843470afecb32ed <539ca5dcbc91134bbe2c45677811c31d8b030d2d; version=bfa83a9e03cf8d501c6272999843470afecb32ed <992e4ff7116a77968039277b5d6aaa535c2f2184; version=bfa83a9e03cf8d501c6272999843470afecb32ed <f0950402e8c76e7dcb08563f1b4e8000fbc62455

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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-129Improper Validation of Array Index

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo