CVE-2023-53311Public exploit

Kernel memory compromise via nilfs_root use-after-free

Published Sep 16, 2025 · Updated Sep 16, 2025

Use-after-free in nilfs2 in Linux 4.0 through 6.4.10 allows local users to read or write kernel memory or crash the system during unmount. During nilfs2 teardown, nilfs_detach_log_writer frees nilfs_root, then iput can dirty a remaining inode and nilfs_load_inode_block dereferences the released root. Reachability requires a mounted nilfs2 image with dirty inodes and a final-reference I_DIRTY_TIME path; the result is kernel memory compromise or a kernel panic.

CVSS severity7.8
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 nilfs2 in Linux 4.0 through 6.4.10 allows local users to read or write kernel memory or crash the system during unmount. During nilfs2 teardown, nilfs_detach_log_writer frees nilfs_root, then iput can dirty a remaining inode and nilfs_load_inode_block dereferences the released root. Reachability requires a mounted nilfs2 image with dirty inodes and a final-reference I_DIRTY_TIME path; the result is kernel memory compromise or a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53311
Published
Sep 16, 2025
Updated
Sep 16, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
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=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <11afd67f1b3c28eb216e50a3ca8dbcb69bb71793
  2. Affected versionversion=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <3645510cf926e6af2f4d44899370d7e5331c93bd
  3. Affected versionversion=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <37207240872456fbab44a110bde6640445233963
  4. Affected versionversion=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <5828d5f5dc877dcfdd7b23102e978e2ecfd86d82
  5. Affected versionversion=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <7532ff6edbf5242376b24a95a2fefb59bb653e5a
  6. Affected versionversion=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <a3c3b4cbf9b8554120fb230e6516e980c6277487
  7. Affected versionversion=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <d2c539c216cce74837a9cf5804eb205939b82227
  8. Affected versionversion=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <f8654743a0e6909dc634cbfad6db6816f10f3399
  9. Affected versionversion=4.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <11afd67f1b3c28eb216e50a3ca8dbcb69bb71793; version=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <3645510cf926e6af2f4d44899370d7e5331c93bd; version=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <37207240872456fbab44a110bde6640445233963; version=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <5828d5f5dc877dcfdd7b23102e978e2ecfd86d82; version=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <7532ff6edbf5242376b24a95a2fefb59bb653e5a; version=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <a3c3b4cbf9b8554120fb230e6516e980c6277487; version=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <d2c539c216cce74837a9cf5804eb205939b82227; version=0ae45f63d4ef8d8eeec49c7d8b44a1775fff13e8 <f8654743a0e6909dc634cbfad6db6816f10f3399; version=4.0

Published CVSS scores

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

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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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