CVE-2023-53117

Memory disclosure via speculative descriptor indexing

Published May 2, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Out-of-bounds read in the Linux kernel allows local users to disclose kernel memory by closing a crafted file descriptor. In fs/file.c, pick_file() bounds-checks the descriptor but then indexes fdt->fd without array_index_nospec(), permitting speculative use of an out-of-range index. Low-privileged local access is required; successful exploitation exposes kernel-resident data and can interrupt the host, with no integrity impact reported.

CVSS severity7.1
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 read in the Linux kernel allows local users to disclose kernel memory by closing a crafted file descriptor. In fs/file.c, pick_file() bounds-checks the descriptor but then indexes fdt->fd without array_index_nospec(), permitting speculative use of an out-of-range index. Low-privileged local access is required; successful exploitation exposes kernel-resident data and can interrupt the host, with no integrity impact reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53117
Published
May 2, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-125
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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <3d5d9501b634fd268eb56428cda92cd317752d69
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <609d54441493c99f21c1823dfd66fa7f4c512ff4
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6631c8da02cfad96c53b217cf647b511c7f34faf
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a759905de9cd6ec9ca08ceadf0920272772ed830
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <cec08b7d1ebcd3138d4658b3868ce26aeb1e8e06
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <eea8e4e056a5ffbeb539a13854c017d5d62c756a
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f31cd5da636682caea424fa1c22679016cbfc16b
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f8cd8754a03a3748384ee438c572423643c9c315
  9. Affected versionversion=2.6.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <3d5d9501b634fd268eb56428cda92cd317752d69; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <609d54441493c99f21c1823dfd66fa7f4c512ff4; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6631c8da02cfad96c53b217cf647b511c7f34faf; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a759905de9cd6ec9ca08ceadf0920272772ed830; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <cec08b7d1ebcd3138d4658b3868ce26aeb1e8e06; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <eea8e4e056a5ffbeb539a13854c017d5d62c756a; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f31cd5da636682caea424fa1c22679016cbfc16b; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f8cd8754a03a3748384ee438c572423643c9c315; version=2.6.12

Published CVSS scores

7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 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

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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