CVE-2023-53601

Kernel warning via unset packet MAC header

Published Oct 4, 2025 · Updated Oct 4, 2025

Improper header handling in the Linux kernel allows attackers to trigger a kernel warning through locally generated packet transmission. The bonding transmit hash path calls skb_mac_offset on packets whose MAC header was never set instead of using skb->data directly. The demonstrated path originates in packet_sendmsg and traverses a bonding interface; the public record reports a warning but does not establish a crash.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
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

Improper header handling in the Linux kernel allows attackers to trigger a kernel warning through locally generated packet transmission. The bonding transmit hash path calls skb_mac_offset on packets whose MAC header was never set instead of using skb->data directly. The demonstrated path originates in packet_sendmsg and traverses a bonding interface; the public record reports a warning but does not establish a crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53601
Published
Oct 4, 2025
Updated
Oct 4, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

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=5.12
  2. Affected versionversion=7b8fc0103bb51d1d3e1fb5fd67958612e709f883 <029d892b05fc5e42a1b1c0665f62cb3e4b23e6dc
  3. Affected versionversion=7b8fc0103bb51d1d3e1fb5fd67958612e709f883 <37b6143376a578265add04f35161b257eeb84a5e
  4. Affected versionversion=7b8fc0103bb51d1d3e1fb5fd67958612e709f883 <6a940abdef3162e5723f1495b8a49859d1708f79
  5. Affected versionversion=7b8fc0103bb51d1d3e1fb5fd67958612e709f883 <bc16fc63592c419357dd4c4d82d50762102a60ef
  6. Affected versionversion=7b8fc0103bb51d1d3e1fb5fd67958612e709f883 <c96cc3d9acaca53d9a81c884c23f1224b61c829b

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.12; version=7b8fc0103bb51d1d3e1fb5fd67958612e709f883 <029d892b05fc5e42a1b1c0665f62cb3e4b23e6dc; version=7b8fc0103bb51d1d3e1fb5fd67958612e709f883 <37b6143376a578265add04f35161b257eeb84a5e; version=7b8fc0103bb51d1d3e1fb5fd67958612e709f883 <6a940abdef3162e5723f1495b8a49859d1708f79; version=7b8fc0103bb51d1d3e1fb5fd67958612e709f883 <bc16fc63592c419357dd4c4d82d50762102a60ef; version=7b8fc0103bb51d1d3e1fb5fd67958612e709f883 <c96cc3d9acaca53d9a81c884c23f1224b61c829b

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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