CVE-2023-53619

Kernel memory corruption via dangling helper hash

Published Oct 7, 2025 · Updated Oct 7, 2025

Use-after-free in affected Linux kernel netfilter conntrack builds allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during helper registration. After nf_conntrack_init_start() fails, cleanup frees nf_ct_helper_hash, but nf_conntrack_helpers_register() later dereferences that dangling pointer. Reachability requires NF_CONNTRACK=y, failed conntrack initialization, and later loading of a conntrack helper module; the documented result is random kernel-memory corruption.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.21%
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 affected Linux kernel netfilter conntrack builds allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during helper registration. After nf_conntrack_init_start() fails, cleanup frees nf_ct_helper_hash, but nf_conntrack_helpers_register() later dereferences that dangling pointer. Reachability requires NF_CONNTRACK=y, failed conntrack initialization, and later loading of a conntrack helper module; the documented result is random kernel-memory corruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53619
Published
Oct 7, 2025
Updated
Oct 7, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 7, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 7, 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=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <00716f25f9697d02a0d9bd622575c7c7321ba3d0
  2. Affected versionversion=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <05561f822f27b9fa88fa5504ddec34bf38833034
  3. Affected versionversion=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <4ee69c91cb8f9ca144bc0861969e5a1a3c6152a7
  4. Affected versionversion=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <61c7a5256543ae7d24cd9d21853d514c8632e1e9
  5. Affected versionversion=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <6eef7a2b933885a17679eb8ed0796ddf0ee5309b
  6. Affected versionversion=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <6f03ce2f1abcb9f9d0511e3659ca6eb60e39f566
  7. Affected versionversion=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <8289d422f5e484efe4a565fe18e862ecd621c175
  8. Affected versionversion=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <fce5cc7cbd4b92f979bf02c9ec5fb69aaeba92d7
  9. Affected versionversion=3.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <00716f25f9697d02a0d9bd622575c7c7321ba3d0; version=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <05561f822f27b9fa88fa5504ddec34bf38833034; version=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <4ee69c91cb8f9ca144bc0861969e5a1a3c6152a7; version=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <61c7a5256543ae7d24cd9d21853d514c8632e1e9; version=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <6eef7a2b933885a17679eb8ed0796ddf0ee5309b; version=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <6f03ce2f1abcb9f9d0511e3659ca6eb60e39f566; version=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <8289d422f5e484efe4a565fe18e862ecd621c175; version=12f7a505331e6b2754684b509f2ac8f0011ce644 <fce5cc7cbd4b92f979bf02c9ec5fb69aaeba92d7; version=3.6

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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

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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.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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