CVE-2023-53684

Kernel-memory disclosure via uncleared XFRM padding

Published Oct 7, 2025 · Updated Oct 7, 2025

Information disclosure in the Linux kernel allows local users to read uninitialized padding through XFRM netlink dump replies. The xfrm_user dump paths copied whole algorithm and encapsulation-template structures to user space without clearing padding bytes. Local low-privileged access is required; the exposed bytes contain random kernel-memory remnants and do not permit direct writes.

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

Information disclosure in the Linux kernel allows local users to read uninitialized padding through XFRM netlink dump replies. The xfrm_user dump paths copied whole algorithm and encapsulation-template structures to user space without clearing padding bytes. Local low-privileged access is required; the exposed bytes contain random kernel-memory remnants and do not permit direct writes.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53684
Published
Oct 7, 2025
Updated
Oct 7, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1005
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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0725daaa9a879388ed312110f62dbd5ea2d75f8f
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <1a351e26cc010d6991fbbd5701ac16581372e26f
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5218af4ad5d8948faac19f71583bcd786c3852df
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8222d5910dae08213b6d9d4bc9a7f8502855e624

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0725daaa9a879388ed312110f62dbd5ea2d75f8f; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <1a351e26cc010d6991fbbd5701ac16581372e26f; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5218af4ad5d8948faac19f71583bcd786c3852df; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8222d5910dae08213b6d9d4bc9a7f8502855e624

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS: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.

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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

T1005Data from Local System

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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