CVE-2023-53167

Root-triggered kernel panic via uninitialized seq_file state

Published Sep 15, 2025 · Updated Sep 15, 2025

NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel tracing error log allows local users with root privileges to cause a kernel panic via lseek. A write-only open of /sys/kernel/tracing/error_log skips seq_open, leaving file->private_data null for seq_lseek to dereference. The node requires root access, and successful triggering interrupts the host without reported data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel tracing error log allows local users with root privileges to cause a kernel panic via lseek. A write-only open of /sys/kernel/tracing/error_log skips seq_open, leaving file->private_data null for seq_lseek to dereference. The node requires root access, and successful triggering interrupts the host without reported data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53167
Published
Sep 15, 2025
Updated
Sep 15, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476, T1529
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 15, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 15, 2025Record 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=5.2
  2. Affected versionversion=8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a <02b0095e2fbbc060560c1065f86a211d91e27b26
  3. Affected versionversion=8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a <1e1c9aa9288a46c342f0f2c5c0b1c0876b9b0276
  4. Affected versionversion=8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a <3b5d9b7b875968a8a8c99dac45cb85b705c44802
  5. Affected versionversion=8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a <7060e5aac6dc195124c106f49106d653a416323a
  6. Affected versionversion=8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a <93114cbc7cb169f6f26eeaed5286b91bb86b463b
  7. Affected versionversion=8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a <938d5b7a75e18264887387ddf9169db6d8aeef98

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.2; version=8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a <02b0095e2fbbc060560c1065f86a211d91e27b26; version=8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a <1e1c9aa9288a46c342f0f2c5c0b1c0876b9b0276; version=8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a <3b5d9b7b875968a8a8c99dac45cb85b705c44802; version=8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a <7060e5aac6dc195124c106f49106d653a416323a; version=8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a <93114cbc7cb169f6f26eeaed5286b91bb86b463b; version=8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a <938d5b7a75e18264887387ddf9169db6d8aeef98

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1529System Shutdown/Reboot

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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