CVE-2023-53445

Local kernel code execution via QRTR node race

Published Sep 18, 2025 · Updated Sep 18, 2025

Use-after-free in the Linux QRTR subsystem allows local users to execute code in kernel context through a controlled race. qrtr_node_lookup reads a node from the radix tree and increments its zeroed reference after concurrent qrtr_endpoint_unregister frees it because the lookup lacks qrtr_node_lock protection. Local syscall access and permission to use /dev/qrtr-tun are required; exploitation can disclose or overwrite kernel memory, hijack control flow, or panic the host.

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 QRTR subsystem allows local users to execute code in kernel context through a controlled race. qrtr_node_lookup reads a node from the radix tree and increments its zeroed reference after concurrent qrtr_endpoint_unregister frees it because the lookup lacks qrtr_node_lock protection. Local syscall access and permission to use /dev/qrtr-tun are required; exploitation can disclose or overwrite kernel memory, hijack control flow, or panic the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53445
Published
Sep 18, 2025
Updated
Sep 18, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
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=0a7e0d0ef05440db03c3199e84d228db943b237f <44d807320000db0d0013372ad39b53e12d52f758
  2. Affected versionversion=0a7e0d0ef05440db03c3199e84d228db943b237f <48a07f6e00d305597396da4d7494b81cec05b9d3
  3. Affected versionversion=0a7e0d0ef05440db03c3199e84d228db943b237f <98a9cd82c541ef6cbdb829cd6c05cbbb471e373c
  4. Affected versionversion=0a7e0d0ef05440db03c3199e84d228db943b237f <aa95efa187b4114075f312b3c4680d050b56fdec
  5. Affected versionversion=0a7e0d0ef05440db03c3199e84d228db943b237f <b9ba5906c42089f8e1d0001b7b50a7940f086cbb
  6. Affected versionversion=5.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0a7e0d0ef05440db03c3199e84d228db943b237f <44d807320000db0d0013372ad39b53e12d52f758; version=0a7e0d0ef05440db03c3199e84d228db943b237f <48a07f6e00d305597396da4d7494b81cec05b9d3; version=0a7e0d0ef05440db03c3199e84d228db943b237f <98a9cd82c541ef6cbdb829cd6c05cbbb471e373c; version=0a7e0d0ef05440db03c3199e84d228db943b237f <aa95efa187b4114075f312b3c4680d050b56fdec; version=0a7e0d0ef05440db03c3199e84d228db943b237f <b9ba5906c42089f8e1d0001b7b50a7940f086cbb; version=5.6

Published CVSS scores

7.8LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5UbuntuCVSS: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

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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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