CVE-2023-53019

Out-of-bounds memory access via unchecked PHY address

Published Mar 27, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Out-of-bounds array access in the Linux kernel 4.5 through 6.1 allows attackers to trigger invalid memory access through a PHY address. mdiobus_get_phy() indexes the mdio_map array with an unchecked addr value, and stmmac_init_phy() can supply -1, reading beyond the array. Reachability depends on an MDIO-using network driver passing an out-of-range PHY address; the published record establishes memory access outside the array but not code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.20%
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 array access in the Linux kernel 4.5 through 6.1 allows attackers to trigger invalid memory access through a PHY address. mdiobus_get_phy() indexes the mdio_map array with an unchecked addr value, and stmmac_init_phy() can supply -1, reading beyond the array. Reachability depends on an MDIO-using network driver passing an out-of-range PHY address; the published record establishes memory access outside the array but not code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53019
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

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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=4.5
  2. Affected versionversion=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <1d80c259dfbadefa61b7ea334dfce5cb57f8c72f
  3. Affected versionversion=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <4bc5f1f6bc94e695dfd912122af96e7115a0ddb8
  4. Affected versionversion=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <7879626296e6ffd838ae0f2af1ab49ee46354973
  5. Affected versionversion=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <867dbe784c5010a466f00a7d1467c1c5ea569c75
  6. Affected versionversion=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <8a7b9560a3a8eb8724888c426e05926752f73aa0
  7. Affected versionversion=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <ad67de330d83e8078372b52af18ffe8d39e26c85
  8. Affected versionversion=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <c431a3d642593bbdb99e8a9e3eed608b730db6f8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.5; version=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <1d80c259dfbadefa61b7ea334dfce5cb57f8c72f; version=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <4bc5f1f6bc94e695dfd912122af96e7115a0ddb8; version=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <7879626296e6ffd838ae0f2af1ab49ee46354973; version=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <867dbe784c5010a466f00a7d1467c1c5ea569c75; version=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <8a7b9560a3a8eb8724888c426e05926752f73aa0; version=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <ad67de330d83e8078372b52af18ffe8d39e26c85; version=7f854420fbfe9d49afe2ffb1df052cfe8e215541 <c431a3d642593bbdb99e8a9e3eed608b730db6f8

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS: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-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

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Your stack

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