CVE-2023-53386

Kernel memory corruption via freed key iteration

Published Sep 18, 2025 · Updated Sep 18, 2025

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel Bluetooth HCI core from 5.7 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory while clearing keys. The key-removal loops free an RCU-protected key with kfree_rcu() and then advance the list traversal through that freed object instead of preserving the next entry. Low-privileged local access to the Bluetooth key-clearing path is required; exploitation can disclose or alter data or crash the system.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.15%
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 the Linux kernel Bluetooth HCI core from 5.7 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory while clearing keys. The key-removal loops free an RCU-protected key with kfree_rcu() and then advance the list traversal through that freed object instead of preserving the next entry. Low-privileged local access to the Bluetooth key-clearing path is required; exploitation can disclose or alter data or crash the system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53386
Published
Sep 18, 2025
Updated
Sep 18, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 18, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 18, 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=5.7
  2. Affected versionversion=d7d41682efc25d58b5bd8b80e85e3c9ce586635c <35cc42f04bc49f0656f6840cb7451b3df6049649
  3. Affected versionversion=d7d41682efc25d58b5bd8b80e85e3c9ce586635c <3673952cf0c6cf81b06c66a0b788abeeb02ff3ae
  4. Affected versionversion=d7d41682efc25d58b5bd8b80e85e3c9ce586635c <942d8cefb022f384d5424f8b90c7878f3f93726f
  5. Affected versionversion=d7d41682efc25d58b5bd8b80e85e3c9ce586635c <94617b736c25091b60e514e2e7aeafcbbee6b700
  6. Affected versionversion=d7d41682efc25d58b5bd8b80e85e3c9ce586635c <da19f35868dfbecfff4f81166c054d2656cb1be4
  7. Affected versionversion=d7d41682efc25d58b5bd8b80e85e3c9ce586635c <e87da6a0ac6e631454e7da53a76aa9fe44aaa5dd

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.7; version=d7d41682efc25d58b5bd8b80e85e3c9ce586635c <35cc42f04bc49f0656f6840cb7451b3df6049649; version=d7d41682efc25d58b5bd8b80e85e3c9ce586635c <3673952cf0c6cf81b06c66a0b788abeeb02ff3ae; version=d7d41682efc25d58b5bd8b80e85e3c9ce586635c <942d8cefb022f384d5424f8b90c7878f3f93726f; version=d7d41682efc25d58b5bd8b80e85e3c9ce586635c <94617b736c25091b60e514e2e7aeafcbbee6b700; version=d7d41682efc25d58b5bd8b80e85e3c9ce586635c <da19f35868dfbecfff4f81166c054d2656cb1be4; version=d7d41682efc25d58b5bd8b80e85e3c9ce586635c <e87da6a0ac6e631454e7da53a76aa9fe44aaa5dd

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.1Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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