CVE-2023-53608

Kernel memory corruption via NILFS2 teardown race

Published Oct 4, 2025 · Updated Oct 4, 2025

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel NILFS2 component allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through repeated filesystem teardown. nilfs_segctor_thread clears sc_task before notifying sc_wait_task, letting nilfs_segctor_kill_thread observe completion and free nilfs_sc_info while the first thread still uses its waitqueue. Access to mount and unmount a NILFS2 volume is required; winning the race can produce a kernel crash or support local privilege escalation.

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 kernel NILFS2 component allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through repeated filesystem teardown. nilfs_segctor_thread clears sc_task before notifying sc_wait_task, letting nilfs_segctor_kill_thread observe completion and free nilfs_sc_info while the first thread still uses its waitqueue. Access to mount and unmount a NILFS2 volume is required; winning the race can produce a kernel crash or support local privilege escalation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53608
Published
Oct 4, 2025
Updated
Oct 4, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
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 <034cce77d52ba013ce62b4f5258c29907eb1ada5
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0dbf0e64b91ee8fcb278aea93eb06fc7d56ecbcc
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <613bf23c070d11c525268f2945aa594704a9b764
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6be49d100c22ffea3287a4b19d7639d259888e33
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <92684e02654c91a61a0b0561433b710bcece19fe
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <b4d80bd6370b81a1725b6b8f7894802c23a14e9f
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <bae009a2f1b7c2011d2e92d8c84868d315c0b97e
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f32297dba338dc06d62286dedb3cdbd5175b1719

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <034cce77d52ba013ce62b4f5258c29907eb1ada5; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0dbf0e64b91ee8fcb278aea93eb06fc7d56ecbcc; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <613bf23c070d11c525268f2945aa594704a9b764; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6be49d100c22ffea3287a4b19d7639d259888e33; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <92684e02654c91a61a0b0561433b710bcece19fe; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <b4d80bd6370b81a1725b6b8f7894802c23a14e9f; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <bae009a2f1b7c2011d2e92d8c84868d315c0b97e; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f32297dba338dc06d62286dedb3cdbd5175b1719

Published CVSS scores

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

CWE-416Use After Free
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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