Local privilege escalation via Bluetooth list race
Published Sep 15, 2025 · Updated Sep 15, 2025
A use-after-free in the Linux Bluetooth subsystem allows local users to gain kernel privileges through AF_BLUETOOTH socket operations. hci_update_accept_list_sync waits while iterating unlocked pending-connection lists, allowing le_scan_cleanup to free an hci_conn_params item that the iterator later dereferences. Low-privileged local access and no separate user interaction are required; successful exploitation enables kernel-memory disclosure or modification, while a failed attempt can crash the host.
Summary
What happened
A use-after-free in the Linux Bluetooth subsystem allows local users to gain kernel privileges through AF_BLUETOOTH socket operations. hci_update_accept_list_sync waits while iterating unlocked pending-connection lists, allowing le_scan_cleanup to free an hci_conn_params item that the iterator later dereferences. Low-privileged local access and no separate user interaction are required; successful exploitation enables kernel-memory disclosure or modification, while a failed attempt can crash the host.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-53252
- Published
- Sep 15, 2025
- Updated
- Sep 15, 2025
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 15, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=5.17
- Affected versionversion=e8907f76544ffe225ab95d70f7313267b1d0c76d <13ad45ad14df992a6754a130a19abc8c142d54e2
- Affected versionversion=e8907f76544ffe225ab95d70f7313267b1d0c76d <195ef75e19287b4bc413da3e3e3722b030ac881e
- Affected versionversion=e8907f76544ffe225ab95d70f7313267b1d0c76d <cef88a0fd8e9c2e838162fbb742b3e713b811a7e
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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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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