CVE-2023-53297

Kernel compromise via L2CAP lock imbalance

Published Sep 16, 2025 · Updated Sep 16, 2025

A lock imbalance in the Linux kernel Bluetooth L2CAP handler allows physically proximate attackers to crash or compromise the kernel. l2cap_disconnect_rsp calls l2cap_get_chan_by_scid without first acquiring conn->chan_lock, then unlocks that lock when a crafted response supplies a nonexistent SCID. An unauthenticated Bluetooth peer within radio range can reach the path on an established ACL or LE link, causing a warning or racing channel-list operations into use-after-free access.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A lock imbalance in the Linux kernel Bluetooth L2CAP handler allows physically proximate attackers to crash or compromise the kernel. l2cap_disconnect_rsp calls l2cap_get_chan_by_scid without first acquiring conn->chan_lock, then unlocks that lock when a crafted response supplies a nonexistent SCID. An unauthenticated Bluetooth peer within radio range can reach the path on an established ACL or LE link, causing a warning or racing channel-list operations into use-after-free access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53297
Published
Sep 16, 2025
Updated
Sep 16, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1210
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 16, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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 <116b9c002c894097adc2b8684db2d1da4229ed46
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <2112c4c47d36bc5aba3ddeb9afedce6ae6a67e7d
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <25e97f7b1866e6b8503be349eeea44bb52d661ce
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5134556c9be582793f30695c09d18a26fe1ff2d7
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <55410a9144c76ecda126e6cdec556dfcd8f343b2
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5f352a56f0e607e6ff539cbf12156bfd8af232be
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6a27762340ad08643de3bc17fe1646ea489ca2e2
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <fd269a0435f8e9943b7a57c5a59688848d42d449

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <116b9c002c894097adc2b8684db2d1da4229ed46; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <2112c4c47d36bc5aba3ddeb9afedce6ae6a67e7d; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <25e97f7b1866e6b8503be349eeea44bb52d661ce; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5134556c9be582793f30695c09d18a26fe1ff2d7; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <55410a9144c76ecda126e6cdec556dfcd8f343b2; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5f352a56f0e607e6ff539cbf12156bfd8af232be; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6a27762340ad08643de3bc17fe1646ea489ca2e2; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <fd269a0435f8e9943b7a57c5a59688848d42d449

Published CVSS scores

8.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1210Exploitation of Remote Services

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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