CVE-2023-53485

Kernel compromise via negative JFS leaf index

Published Oct 1, 2025 · Updated Oct 1, 2025

Out-of-bounds access in the Linux kernel JFS allocator allows local users to compromise the kernel through a crafted mounted JFS image. dbAllocDmapLev uses an unvalidated negative leafidx to index stree and wmap, propagating a bogus block number into further out-of-range writes. The user must supply and mount or auto-mount the image and create a file; successful exploitation can expose kernel data, corrupt memory or metadata, or panic the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds access in the Linux kernel JFS allocator allows local users to compromise the kernel through a crafted mounted JFS image. dbAllocDmapLev uses an unvalidated negative leafidx to index stree and wmap, propagating a bogus block number into further out-of-range writes. The user must supply and mount or auto-mount the image and create a file; successful exploitation can expose kernel data, corrupt memory or metadata, or panic the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53485
Published
Oct 1, 2025
Updated
Oct 1, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 1, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 1, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0d9e678a82915633b99603f744e7735d1a673d72
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <39f6292d75959e8accac0b3e24090094ba0824e9
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <4e302336d5ca1767a06beee7596a72d3bdc8d983
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <53b0a362aca2583729e8ca2936ca657ff3247d88
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6e7d9d76e5654bcdd3cdb7c9441a8113428ecebb
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <911b48eec45152822bccf45cd3563b48256b1520
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <bdf07ab1595b613b03f32dbb5cb379edfa1a7334
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f2af019091f904ca08b3572ab0111238ad6d17b3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0d9e678a82915633b99603f744e7735d1a673d72; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <39f6292d75959e8accac0b3e24090094ba0824e9; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <4e302336d5ca1767a06beee7596a72d3bdc8d983; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <53b0a362aca2583729e8ca2936ca657ff3247d88; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6e7d9d76e5654bcdd3cdb7c9441a8113428ecebb; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <911b48eec45152822bccf45cd3563b48256b1520; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <bdf07ab1595b613b03f32dbb5cb379edfa1a7334; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f2af019091f904ca08b3572ab0111238ad6d17b3

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux Kernel CVE TeamCVSS: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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo