CVE-2023-53629Network attack vector

Kernel compromise via DLM acknowledgment race

Published Oct 7, 2025 · Updated Oct 7, 2025

Use-after-free in Linux 5.14 through affected 6.x kernel branches allows remote attackers to compromise a node via DLM acknowledgments. In fs/dlm/midcomms.c, a fast DLM_ACK frees an mhandle before dlm_midcomms_commit_mhandle finishes using it under SRCU. The path requires active DLM traffic and a source accepted as a configured cluster node; memory corruption enables kernel reads, writes, control-flow hijacking, or a cluster-filesystem hang.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.49%
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 Linux 5.14 through affected 6.x kernel branches allows remote attackers to compromise a node via DLM acknowledgments. In fs/dlm/midcomms.c, a fast DLM_ACK frees an mhandle before dlm_midcomms_commit_mhandle finishes using it under SRCU. The path requires active DLM traffic and a source accepted as a configured cluster node; memory corruption enables kernel reads, writes, control-flow hijacking, or a cluster-filesystem hang.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53629
Published
Oct 7, 2025
Updated
Oct 7, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1210
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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=489d8e559c6596eb08e16447d9830bc39afbe54e <724b6bab0d75f1dc01fdfbf7fe8d4217a5cb90ba
  2. Affected versionversion=489d8e559c6596eb08e16447d9830bc39afbe54e <a2de9f9b686c71b4fa3663ae374f5f643c46a446
  3. Affected versionversion=489d8e559c6596eb08e16447d9830bc39afbe54e <a3b0e9ac3c2447008db942d51f593841d8329e99
  4. Affected versionversion=5.14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=489d8e559c6596eb08e16447d9830bc39afbe54e <724b6bab0d75f1dc01fdfbf7fe8d4217a5cb90ba; version=489d8e559c6596eb08e16447d9830bc39afbe54e <a2de9f9b686c71b4fa3663ae374f5f643c46a446; version=489d8e559c6596eb08e16447d9830bc39afbe54e <a3b0e9ac3c2447008db942d51f593841d8329e99; version=5.14

Published CVSS scores

9.8LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1210Exploitation of Remote Services

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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