CVE-2023-53761

Kernel warning via zero-length usbtmc ioctl

Published Dec 8, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Improper direction validation in affected Linux kernels beginning with 4.20 allows local users to trigger a warning through a zero-length usbtmc ioctl. In drivers/usb/class/usbtmc.c, usbtmc_ioctl_request passes the supplied bRequestType direction into a zero-length control transfer instead of forcing OUT. Reachability requires local access to the usbtmc ioctl for a USB Test and Measurement device; the published trace reports a warning, not a crash or data compromise.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper direction validation in affected Linux kernels beginning with 4.20 allows local users to trigger a warning through a zero-length usbtmc ioctl. In drivers/usb/class/usbtmc.c, usbtmc_ioctl_request passes the supplied bRequestType direction into a zero-length control transfer instead of forcing OUT. Reachability requires local access to the usbtmc ioctl for a USB Test and Measurement device; the published trace reports a warning, not a crash or data compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53761
Published
Dec 8, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 8, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 2026Record 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=4.20
  2. Affected versionversion=658f24f4523e41cda6a389c38b763f4c0cad6fbc <0ced12bdf624d8d8977ddb16eb130cd479d92bcf
  3. Affected versionversion=658f24f4523e41cda6a389c38b763f4c0cad6fbc <3b43d9df27a708f4079d518b879f517fea150a91
  4. Affected versionversion=658f24f4523e41cda6a389c38b763f4c0cad6fbc <50775a046c68e1d157d5e413cae2e5e00da1c463
  5. Affected versionversion=658f24f4523e41cda6a389c38b763f4c0cad6fbc <6340e432cf70bf156b19c6f5dd737d940eca02a3
  6. Affected versionversion=658f24f4523e41cda6a389c38b763f4c0cad6fbc <7cef7681aa7719ff585dd06113a061ab2def7da0
  7. Affected versionversion=658f24f4523e41cda6a389c38b763f4c0cad6fbc <94d25e9128988c6a1fc9070f6e98215a95795bd8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.20; version=658f24f4523e41cda6a389c38b763f4c0cad6fbc <0ced12bdf624d8d8977ddb16eb130cd479d92bcf; version=658f24f4523e41cda6a389c38b763f4c0cad6fbc <3b43d9df27a708f4079d518b879f517fea150a91; version=658f24f4523e41cda6a389c38b763f4c0cad6fbc <50775a046c68e1d157d5e413cae2e5e00da1c463; version=658f24f4523e41cda6a389c38b763f4c0cad6fbc <6340e432cf70bf156b19c6f5dd737d940eca02a3; version=658f24f4523e41cda6a389c38b763f4c0cad6fbc <7cef7681aa7719ff585dd06113a061ab2def7da0; version=658f24f4523e41cda6a389c38b763f4c0cad6fbc <94d25e9128988c6a1fc9070f6e98215a95795bd8

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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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