CVE-2023-53039

Local kernel compromise via uncanceled reset work

Published May 2, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Intel ISH IPC driver in Linux allows local users to compromise the kernel through a firmware reset race. The interrupt handler queues fw_reset_work through global ishtp_dev, but failed ish_probe cleanup frees that device without canceling the queued work. Reachability requires local access to a system with Intel ISH hardware and a probe failure or teardown overlapping a firmware reset; consequences include kernel memory disclosure, arbitrary writes, control-flow hijacking, or a panic.

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

Use-after-free in the Intel ISH IPC driver in Linux allows local users to compromise the kernel through a firmware reset race. The interrupt handler queues fw_reset_work through global ishtp_dev, but failed ish_probe cleanup frees that device without canceling the queued work. Reachability requires local access to a system with Intel ISH hardware and a probe failure or teardown overlapping a firmware reset; consequences include kernel memory disclosure, arbitrary writes, control-flow hijacking, or a panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53039
Published
May 2, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 2, 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=4.9
  2. Affected versionversion=ae02e5d40d5f829c589412c6253f925e35cf7a22 <0a594cb490ca6232671fc09e2dc1a0fc7ccbb0b5
  3. Affected versionversion=ae02e5d40d5f829c589412c6253f925e35cf7a22 <8ae2f2b0a28416ed2f6d8478ac8b9f7862f36785
  4. Affected versionversion=ae02e5d40d5f829c589412c6253f925e35cf7a22 <8c1d378b8c224fd50247625255f09fc01dcc5836
  5. Affected versionversion=ae02e5d40d5f829c589412c6253f925e35cf7a22 <d3ce3afd9f791dd1b7daedfcf8c396b60af5dec0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.9; version=ae02e5d40d5f829c589412c6253f925e35cf7a22 <0a594cb490ca6232671fc09e2dc1a0fc7ccbb0b5; version=ae02e5d40d5f829c589412c6253f925e35cf7a22 <8ae2f2b0a28416ed2f6d8478ac8b9f7862f36785; version=ae02e5d40d5f829c589412c6253f925e35cf7a22 <8c1d378b8c224fd50247625255f09fc01dcc5836; version=ae02e5d40d5f829c589412c6253f925e35cf7a22 <d3ce3afd9f791dd1b7daedfcf8c396b60af5dec0

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS: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-416Use After Free
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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