CVE-2023-53194

Kernel crash via unchecked NTFS index-root length

Published Sep 15, 2025 · Updated Sep 15, 2025

Use-after-free in Linux kernel NTFS3 allows local users to crash the kernel by mounting a crafted NTFS volume. indx_get_root returns a resident INDEX_ROOT without first ensuring that its declared data fits within the attribute, allowing hdr_find_e to read beyond valid memory. Triggering requires a privileged mount operation or a service that mounts attacker-supplied media or images; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel memory-safety fault and service interruption.

CVSS severity8.4
High
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

Use-after-free in Linux kernel NTFS3 allows local users to crash the kernel by mounting a crafted NTFS volume. indx_get_root returns a resident INDEX_ROOT without first ensuring that its declared data fits within the attribute, allowing hdr_find_e to read beyond valid memory. Triggering requires a privileged mount operation or a service that mounts attacker-supplied media or images; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel memory-safety fault and service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53194
Published
Sep 15, 2025
Updated
Sep 15, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
local
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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <08e8cf5f2d9ec383a2e339a2711b62a54ff3fba0
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0d04e45c65f0785e558b93d2631d58680f263e10
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <85afd3007465f8bc74afffbf5b84ec29f5310b03
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <eb5b59931d20f3b02076fae49e85282310b12012

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <08e8cf5f2d9ec383a2e339a2711b62a54ff3fba0; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0d04e45c65f0785e558b93d2631d58680f263e10; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <85afd3007465f8bc74afffbf5b84ec29f5310b03; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <eb5b59931d20f3b02076fae49e85282310b12012

Published CVSS scores

8.4LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CanonicalCVSS: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

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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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free

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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