CVE-2023-53446

Kernel memory corruption via stale PCI device pointer

Published Sep 18, 2025 · Updated Sep 18, 2025

Use-after-free in Linux kernel PCI/ASPM allows local users to trigger stale kernel-memory access after PCI function removal. The pcie_link_state->downstream field retains the removed function-zero pci_dev pointer, and a later ASPM policy change dereferences it. The demonstrated path requires permission to remove a multifunction PCIe function and change the global ASPM policy; KASAN reports the resulting invalid access.

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 Linux kernel PCI/ASPM allows local users to trigger stale kernel-memory access after PCI function removal. The pcie_link_state->downstream field retains the removed function-zero pci_dev pointer, and a later ASPM policy change dereferences it. The demonstrated path requires permission to remove a multifunction PCIe function and change the global ASPM policy; KASAN reports the resulting invalid access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53446
Published
Sep 18, 2025
Updated
Sep 18, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416
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=4.11
  2. Affected versionversion=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <4203722d51afe3d239e03f15cc73efdf023a7103
  3. Affected versionversion=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <456d8aa37d0f56fc9e985e812496e861dcd6f2f2
  4. Affected versionversion=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <666e7f9d60cee23077ea3e6331f6f8a19f7ea03f
  5. Affected versionversion=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <7aecdd47910c51707696e8b0e045b9f88bd4230f
  6. Affected versionversion=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <7badf4d6f49a358a01ab072bbff88d3ee886c33b
  7. Affected versionversion=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <9856c0de49052174ab474113f4ba40c02aaee086
  8. Affected versionversion=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <d51d2eeae4ce54d542909c4d9d07bf371a78592c

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.11; version=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <4203722d51afe3d239e03f15cc73efdf023a7103; version=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <456d8aa37d0f56fc9e985e812496e861dcd6f2f2; version=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <666e7f9d60cee23077ea3e6331f6f8a19f7ea03f; version=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <7aecdd47910c51707696e8b0e045b9f88bd4230f; version=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <7badf4d6f49a358a01ab072bbff88d3ee886c33b; version=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <9856c0de49052174ab474113f4ba40c02aaee086; version=b5a0a9b59c8185aebcd9a717e2e6258b58c72c06 <d51d2eeae4ce54d542909c4d9d07bf371a78592c

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CanonicalCVSS: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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free

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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