CVE-2023-53090

Kernel corruption via uninitialized KFD event pointer

Published May 2, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Memory corruption in affected Linux kernel branches allows local users with GPU render access to corrupt kernel memory or crash the host via a KFD ioctl. If copying an event array from user space fails, kfd_wait_on_events passes waiters with uninitialized event pointers to free_waiters, which dereferences them during wait-queue removal. Access to /dev/kfd is required; successful exploitation can alter kernel memory or terminate the host without separate user interaction.

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

Memory corruption in affected Linux kernel branches allows local users with GPU render access to corrupt kernel memory or crash the host via a KFD ioctl. If copying an event array from user space fails, kfd_wait_on_events passes waiters with uninitialized event pointers to free_waiters, which dereferences them during wait-queue removal. Access to /dev/kfd is required; successful exploitation can alter kernel memory or terminate the host without separate user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53090
Published
May 2, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-125, T1499
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=3.19
  2. Affected versionversion=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <2fece63b55c5d74cd6f5de51159e2cde37e10555
  3. Affected versionversion=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <4fc8fff378b2f2039f2a666d9f8c570f4e58352c
  4. Affected versionversion=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <5a3fb3b745af0ce46ec2e0c8e507bae45b937334
  5. Affected versionversion=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <61f306f8df0d5559659c5578cf6d95236bcdcb25
  6. Affected versionversion=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <6936525142a015e854d0a23e9ad9ea0a28b3843d
  7. Affected versionversion=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <bbf5eada4334a96e3a204b2307ff5b14dc380b0b
  8. Affected versionversion=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <d9923e7214a870b312bf61f6a89c7554d0966985

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.19; version=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <2fece63b55c5d74cd6f5de51159e2cde37e10555; version=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <4fc8fff378b2f2039f2a666d9f8c570f4e58352c; version=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <5a3fb3b745af0ce46ec2e0c8e507bae45b937334; version=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <61f306f8df0d5559659c5578cf6d95236bcdcb25; version=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <6936525142a015e854d0a23e9ad9ea0a28b3843d; version=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <bbf5eada4334a96e3a204b2307ff5b14dc380b0b; version=4a488a7ad71401169cecee75dc94bcce642e2c53 <d9923e7214a870b312bf61f6a89c7554d0966985

Published CVSS scores

5.5SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
6.8SUSECVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.8Linux CNACVSS: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-125Out-of-bounds Read
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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