CVE-2023-53733

Local privilege escalation via failed filter replacement

Published Oct 24, 2025 · Updated Oct 24, 2025

Use-after-free in Linux kernel cls_u32 allows local users to gain kernel privileges through rtnetlink filter changes. When u32_replace_hw_knode fails, u32_set_parms leaves tcf_bind_filter's reference and class accounting in place, creating a dangling res.class pointer that htb_classify later dereferences. An unprivileged local user can obtain CAP_NET_ADMIN in a user namespace, force the failure with skip_sw on a non-offload device, and then achieve kernel code execution or a crash.

CVSS severity7.8
High
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

Use-after-free in Linux kernel cls_u32 allows local users to gain kernel privileges through rtnetlink filter changes. When u32_replace_hw_knode fails, u32_set_parms leaves tcf_bind_filter's reference and class accounting in place, creating a dangling res.class pointer that htb_classify later dereferences. An unprivileged local user can obtain CAP_NET_ADMIN in a user namespace, force the failure with skip_sw on a non-offload device, and then achieve kernel code execution or a crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53733
Published
Oct 24, 2025
Updated
Oct 24, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 24, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 24, 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=4.7
  2. Affected versionversion=d34e3e181395192d6d1f50dd97bd7854e04e33a4 <025159ed118ba5145b241d574edadb0e00d3c20f
  3. Affected versionversion=d34e3e181395192d6d1f50dd97bd7854e04e33a4 <9cb36faedeafb9720ac236aeae2ea57091d90a09
  4. Affected versionversion=d34e3e181395192d6d1f50dd97bd7854e04e33a4 <a9345793469b65ee5ba7b033239916c2a67d3dd4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.7; version=d34e3e181395192d6d1f50dd97bd7854e04e33a4 <025159ed118ba5145b241d574edadb0e00d3c20f; version=d34e3e181395192d6d1f50dd97bd7854e04e33a4 <9cb36faedeafb9720ac236aeae2ea57091d90a09; version=d34e3e181395192d6d1f50dd97bd7854e04e33a4 <a9345793469b65ee5ba7b033239916c2a67d3dd4

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux CNACVSS: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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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

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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