CVE-2023-53804

Kernel memory corruption via unmount use-after-free

Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in nilfs2 in affected Linux kernel branches allows local users to read or corrupt kernel memory during filesystem unmount. After nilfs_detach_log_writer() releases nilfs_root, nilfs_evict_inode() dereferences it while disposing inodes left on garbage_list and performs cleanup through reclaimed memory. Exploitation requires a locally mounted nilfs2 volume with stranded dirty inodes; successful triggering exposes kernel memory, corrupts kernel or filesystem state, or panics the host.

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 nilfs2 in affected Linux kernel branches allows local users to read or corrupt kernel memory during filesystem unmount. After nilfs_detach_log_writer() releases nilfs_root, nilfs_evict_inode() dereferences it while disposing inodes left on garbage_list and performs cleanup through reclaimed memory. Exploitation requires a locally mounted nilfs2 volume with stranded dirty inodes; successful triggering exposes kernel memory, corrupts kernel or filesystem state, or panics the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53804
Published
Dec 9, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 9, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 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=2.6.37
  2. Affected versionversion=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <116d53f09ff52e6f98e3fe1f85d8898d6ba26c68
  3. Affected versionversion=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <2a782ea8ebd712a458466e3103e2881b4f886cb5
  4. Affected versionversion=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <6b4205ea97901f822004e6c8d59484ccfda03faa
  5. Affected versionversion=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <9b5a04ac3ad9898c4745cba46ea26de74ba56a8e
  6. Affected versionversion=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <acc2a40e428f12780004e1e9fce4722d88f909fd
  7. Affected versionversion=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <b8427b8522d9ede53015ba45a9978ba68d1162f5
  8. Affected versionversion=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <f31e18131ee2ce80a4da5c808221d25b1ae9ad6d
  9. Affected versionversion=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <fb8e8d58f116d069e5939e1f786ac84e7fa4533e

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.37; version=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <116d53f09ff52e6f98e3fe1f85d8898d6ba26c68; version=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <2a782ea8ebd712a458466e3103e2881b4f886cb5; version=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <6b4205ea97901f822004e6c8d59484ccfda03faa; version=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <9b5a04ac3ad9898c4745cba46ea26de74ba56a8e; version=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <acc2a40e428f12780004e1e9fce4722d88f909fd; version=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <b8427b8522d9ede53015ba45a9978ba68d1162f5; version=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <f31e18131ee2ce80a4da5c808221d25b1ae9ad6d; version=e912a5b66837ee89fb025e67b5efeaa11930c2ce <fb8e8d58f116d069e5939e1f786ac84e7fa4533e

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux Kernel CVE TeamCVSS: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.

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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)
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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