CVE-2023-53089

Kernel task hang via self-referential xattr inode

Published May 2, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Denial of service in affected Linux kernel releases allows local users to hang a kernel task by mounting a crafted ext4 filesystem image. During ext4 orphan cleanup, ext4_xattr_delete_inode follows an extended-attribute inode number that matches the inode being deleted and waits for that same I_FREEING inode to finish, creating an infinite self-wait. Triggering the condition requires local access sufficient to mount the crafted image; the resulting task hang interrupts availability without reported data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
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

Denial of service in affected Linux kernel releases allows local users to hang a kernel task by mounting a crafted ext4 filesystem image. During ext4 orphan cleanup, ext4_xattr_delete_inode follows an extended-attribute inode number that matches the inode being deleted and waits for that same I_FREEING inode to finish, creating an infinite self-wait. Triggering the condition requires local access sufficient to mount the crafted image; the resulting task hang interrupts availability without reported data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53089
Published
May 2, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 2, 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=4.13
  2. Affected versionversion=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <0f7bfd6f8164be32dbbdf36aa1e5d00485c53cd7
  3. Affected versionversion=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <1aec41c98cce61d19ce89650895e51b9f3cdef13
  4. Affected versionversion=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <2c96c52aeaa6fd9163cfacdd98778b4a0398ef18
  5. Affected versionversion=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <64b72f5e7574020dea62ab733d88a54d903c42a1
  6. Affected versionversion=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <73f7987fe1b82596f1a380e85cd0097ebaae7e01
  7. Affected versionversion=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <94fd091576b12540924f6316ebc0678e84cb2800
  8. Affected versionversion=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <a98160d8f3e6242ca9b7f443f26e7ef3a61ba684
  9. Affected versionversion=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <efddc7e106fdf8d1f62d45e79de78f63b7c04fba

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.13; version=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <0f7bfd6f8164be32dbbdf36aa1e5d00485c53cd7; version=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <1aec41c98cce61d19ce89650895e51b9f3cdef13; version=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <2c96c52aeaa6fd9163cfacdd98778b4a0398ef18; version=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <64b72f5e7574020dea62ab733d88a54d903c42a1; version=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <73f7987fe1b82596f1a380e85cd0097ebaae7e01; version=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <94fd091576b12540924f6316ebc0678e84cb2800; version=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <a98160d8f3e6242ca9b7f443f26e7ef3a61ba684; version=e50e5129f384ae282adebfb561189cdb19b81cee <efddc7e106fdf8d1f62d45e79de78f63b7c04fba

Published CVSS scores

4.4SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
6.7SUSECVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

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

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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