CVE-2023-53799

Kernel BUG via atomic-context instance freeing

Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Improper execution context handling in the Linux kernel Crypto API allows local users to trigger a kernel BUG backtrace. crypto_destroy_instance directly reaches crypto_drop_spawn during instance destruction even though that operation requires process context. Triggering requires an instance to be unregistered with active users and its last user to release it in atomic context; public evidence reports a BUG backtrace, not code execution or data exposure.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
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

Improper execution context handling in the Linux kernel Crypto API allows local users to trigger a kernel BUG backtrace. crypto_destroy_instance directly reaches crypto_drop_spawn during instance destruction even though that operation requires process context. Triggering requires an instance to be unregistered with active users and its last user to release it in atomic context; public evidence reports a BUG backtrace, not code execution or data exposure.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53799
Published
Dec 9, 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 9, 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=2.6.19
  2. Affected versionversion=6bfd48096ff8ecabf955958b51ddfa7988eb0a14 <048545d9fc6424b0a11e7e8771225bb9afe09422
  3. Affected versionversion=6bfd48096ff8ecabf955958b51ddfa7988eb0a14 <625bf86bf53eb7a8ee60fb9dc45b272b77e5ce1c
  4. Affected versionversion=6bfd48096ff8ecabf955958b51ddfa7988eb0a14 <867a146690960ac7b89ce40f4ee60dd32eeb1682
  5. Affected versionversion=6bfd48096ff8ecabf955958b51ddfa7988eb0a14 <9ae4577bc077a7e32c3c7d442c95bc76865c0f17
  6. Affected versionversion=6bfd48096ff8ecabf955958b51ddfa7988eb0a14 <c0dbcebc7f390ec7dbe010dcc22c60f0c6bfc26d
  7. Affected versionversion=6bfd48096ff8ecabf955958b51ddfa7988eb0a14 <c4cb61c5f976183c07d16b0071f0c60bc212ef1f

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.19; version=6bfd48096ff8ecabf955958b51ddfa7988eb0a14 <048545d9fc6424b0a11e7e8771225bb9afe09422; version=6bfd48096ff8ecabf955958b51ddfa7988eb0a14 <625bf86bf53eb7a8ee60fb9dc45b272b77e5ce1c; version=6bfd48096ff8ecabf955958b51ddfa7988eb0a14 <867a146690960ac7b89ce40f4ee60dd32eeb1682; version=6bfd48096ff8ecabf955958b51ddfa7988eb0a14 <9ae4577bc077a7e32c3c7d442c95bc76865c0f17; version=6bfd48096ff8ecabf955958b51ddfa7988eb0a14 <c0dbcebc7f390ec7dbe010dcc22c60f0c6bfc26d; version=6bfd48096ff8ecabf955958b51ddfa7988eb0a14 <c4cb61c5f976183c07d16b0071f0c60bc212ef1f

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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