CVE-2023-53298

Kernel memory exhaustion via leaked NFC callback contexts

Published Sep 16, 2025 · Updated Sep 16, 2025

Memory leak in the Linux kernel NFC subsystem from 3.13 allows local users to exhaust kernel memory through secure-element I/O errors. The nfc_genl_se_io function allocates a callback context for APDU exchange, but several error paths neither arm bwi_timer to invoke se_io_cb nor free that context. Low-privileged local access to NFC secure-element I/O is required, and repeated failing requests can interrupt service by consuming kernel memory.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory leak in the Linux kernel NFC subsystem from 3.13 allows local users to exhaust kernel memory through secure-element I/O errors. The nfc_genl_se_io function allocates a callback context for APDU exchange, but several error paths neither arm bwi_timer to invoke se_io_cb nor free that context. Low-privileged local access to NFC secure-element I/O is required, and repeated failing requests can interrupt service by consuming kernel memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53298
Published
Sep 16, 2025
Updated
Sep 16, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-401, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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=3.13
  2. Affected versionversion=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <25ff6f8a5a3b8dc48e8abda6f013e8cc4b14ffea
  3. Affected versionversion=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <271eed1736426103335c5aac50f15b0f4d236bc0
  4. Affected versionversion=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <5321da6d84b87a34eea441677d649c34bd854169
  5. Affected versionversion=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <8978315cb4bf8878c9c8ec05dafd8f7ff539860d
  6. Affected versionversion=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <af452e35b9e6a87cd49e54a7a3d60d934b194651
  7. Affected versionversion=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <b2036a252381949d3b743a3de069324ae3028a57
  8. Affected versionversion=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <ba98db08895748c12e5ded52cd1598dce2c79e55
  9. Affected versionversion=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <c494365432dcdc549986f4d9af9eb6190cbdb153

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.13; version=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <25ff6f8a5a3b8dc48e8abda6f013e8cc4b14ffea; version=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <271eed1736426103335c5aac50f15b0f4d236bc0; version=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <5321da6d84b87a34eea441677d649c34bd854169; version=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <8978315cb4bf8878c9c8ec05dafd8f7ff539860d; version=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <af452e35b9e6a87cd49e54a7a3d60d934b194651; version=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <b2036a252381949d3b743a3de069324ae3028a57; version=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <ba98db08895748c12e5ded52cd1598dce2c79e55; version=5ce3f32b5264b337bfd13a780452a17705307725 <c494365432dcdc549986f4d9af9eb6190cbdb153

Published CVSS scores

5.5CISA ADPCVSS: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

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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
Privilegesauthenticated
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.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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