CVE-2023-53224

Kernel crash via mismatched ext4 release callback

Published Sep 15, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Denial of service in the ext4 sysfs code in Linux allows local users with module-unload privileges to crash the kernel on kCFI systems. The ext4_feat_ktype release slot points directly to kfree even though kobject release callbacks require a different function prototype. The path is reachable only when ext4 is a loadable module and unloaded; failure kills the calling thread or panics the kernel.

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

Denial of service in the ext4 sysfs code in Linux allows local users with module-unload privileges to crash the kernel on kCFI systems. The ext4_feat_ktype release slot points directly to kfree even though kobject release callbacks require a different function prototype. The path is reachable only when ext4 is a loadable module and unloaded; failure kills the calling thread or panics the kernel.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53224
Published
Sep 15, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-401, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 15, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.16
  2. Affected versionversion=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <0a1394e07c5d6bf1bfc25db8589ff1b1bfb6f46a
  3. Affected versionversion=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <118901ad1f25d2334255b3d50512fa20591531cd
  4. Affected versionversion=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <1ba10d3640e9783dad811fe4e24d55465c37c64d
  5. Affected versionversion=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <2b69cdd9f9a7f596e3dd31f05f9852940d177924
  6. Affected versionversion=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <94d8de83286fb1827340eba35b61c308f6b46ead
  7. Affected versionversion=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <99e3fd21f8fc975c95e8cf76fbf6a3d2656f8f71
  8. Affected versionversion=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <c98077f7598a562f51051eec043be0cb3e1b1b5e

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.16; version=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <0a1394e07c5d6bf1bfc25db8589ff1b1bfb6f46a; version=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <118901ad1f25d2334255b3d50512fa20591531cd; version=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <1ba10d3640e9783dad811fe4e24d55465c37c64d; version=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <2b69cdd9f9a7f596e3dd31f05f9852940d177924; version=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <94d8de83286fb1827340eba35b61c308f6b46ead; version=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <99e3fd21f8fc975c95e8cf76fbf6a3d2656f8f71; version=b99fee58a20ab8e0557cce87b6f187e325993142 <c98077f7598a562f51051eec043be0cb3e1b1b5e

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
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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