CVE-2023-53538

Kernel panic via omitted tree-mod-log move

Published Oct 4, 2025 · Updated Oct 4, 2025

A Btrfs race in Linux 3.7 through 6.4.3 allows local users to panic the kernel during logical inode resolution. push_node_left omits a tree-mod-log move, so btrfs_tree_mod_log_rewind copies unwritten slots into a fresh extent buffer and search_old_slot follows invalid zero keys. Triggering requires a Btrfs filesystem, the ino_to_logical ioctl, concurrent node balancing, and a rare rewind timing window; success crashes the host without reported data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A Btrfs race in Linux 3.7 through 6.4.3 allows local users to panic the kernel during logical inode resolution. push_node_left omits a tree-mod-log move, so btrfs_tree_mod_log_rewind copies unwritten slots into a fresh extent buffer and search_old_slot follows invalid zero keys. Triggering requires a Btrfs filesystem, the ino_to_logical ioctl, concurrent node balancing, and a rare rewind timing window; success crashes the host without reported data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53538
Published
Oct 4, 2025
Updated
Oct 4, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 4, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 4, 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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <11f14402fe3437852cb44945b3b9f1bdb4032956
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5cead5422a0e3d13b0bcee986c0f5c4ebb94100b

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <11f14402fe3437852cb44945b3b9f1bdb4032956; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5cead5422a0e3d13b0bcee986c0f5c4ebb94100b

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS: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.

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

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service

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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