CVE-2023-53420

Kernel memory disclosure and panic via EA iteration

Published Sep 18, 2025 · Updated Sep 18, 2025

Out-of-bounds read in Linux allows local users to disclose kernel memory or panic the host through crafted NTFS extended attributes. In fs/ntfs3/xattr.c, ntfs_list_ea continues ea_all iteration when ea->name_len is zero, so Add2Ptr advances into invalid slab memory. The path requires a mounted malicious NTFS volume and a reachable file, after which an unprivileged caller can invoke listxattr without further interaction.

CVSS severity7.1
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

Out-of-bounds read in Linux allows local users to disclose kernel memory or panic the host through crafted NTFS extended attributes. In fs/ntfs3/xattr.c, ntfs_list_ea continues ea_all iteration when ea->name_len is zero, so Add2Ptr advances into invalid slab memory. The path requires a mounted malicious NTFS volume and a reachable file, after which an unprivileged caller can invoke listxattr without further interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53420
Published
Sep 18, 2025
Updated
Sep 18, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-125
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=5.15
  2. Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <3c675ddffb17a8b1e32efad5c983254af18b12c2
  3. Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <721b75ea2dfce53a8890dff92ae01afca8e74f88
  4. Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <c86a2517df6c9304db8fb12b77136ec7a5d85994
  5. Affected versionversion=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <f3380d895e28a32632eb3609f5bd515adee4e5a1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.15; version=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <3c675ddffb17a8b1e32efad5c983254af18b12c2; version=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <721b75ea2dfce53a8890dff92ae01afca8e74f88; version=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <c86a2517df6c9304db8fb12b77136ec7a5d85994; version=be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 <f3380d895e28a32632eb3609f5bd515adee4e5a1

Published CVSS scores

7.1CISA ADPCVSS: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-125Out-of-bounds Read

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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