CVE-2023-53186Network attack vector

Kernel memory corruption via SKB coalescing race

Published Sep 15, 2025 · Updated Sep 15, 2025

Race condition in Linux kernel 5.15 through 6.2 allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via crafted inbound traffic. skb_try_coalesce permits merging while a cloned source SKB can be released concurrently, making nr_frags zero and skipping a required page reference increment. Reachability requires a listening service on a page-pool NIC plus victim-side SKB cloning, and the race can panic the kernel or cause use-after-free and double-free corruption.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Race condition in Linux kernel 5.15 through 6.2 allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via crafted inbound traffic. skb_try_coalesce permits merging while a cloned source SKB can be released concurrently, making nr_frags zero and skipping a required page reference increment. Reachability requires a listening service on a page-pool NIC plus victim-side SKB cloning, and the race can panic the kernel or cause use-after-free and double-free corruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53186
Published
Sep 15, 2025
Updated
Sep 15, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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=5.15
  2. Affected versionversion=53e0961da1c7bbdabd1abebb20de403ec237ec09 <0646dc31ca886693274df5749cd0c8c1eaaeb5ca
  3. Affected versionversion=53e0961da1c7bbdabd1abebb20de403ec237ec09 <5f692c992a3bb9a8018e3488098b401a4229e7ec
  4. Affected versionversion=53e0961da1c7bbdabd1abebb20de403ec237ec09 <71850b5af92da21b4862a9bc55bda61091247d00
  5. Affected versionversion=53e0961da1c7bbdabd1abebb20de403ec237ec09 <906a6689bb0191ad2a44131a3377006aa098af59

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.15; version=53e0961da1c7bbdabd1abebb20de403ec237ec09 <0646dc31ca886693274df5749cd0c8c1eaaeb5ca; version=53e0961da1c7bbdabd1abebb20de403ec237ec09 <5f692c992a3bb9a8018e3488098b401a4229e7ec; version=53e0961da1c7bbdabd1abebb20de403ec237ec09 <71850b5af92da21b4862a9bc55bda61091247d00; version=53e0961da1c7bbdabd1abebb20de403ec237ec09 <906a6689bb0191ad2a44131a3377006aa098af59

Published CVSS scores

8.1LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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