CVE-2023-53838

Kernel memory corruption via atomic-write abort race

Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Race condition in the f2fs component of Linux allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through concurrent atomic-write aborts. The unlocked file-release abort can race the ioctl abort, causing both paths to drop the same COW inode reference while another thread still uses it. A mounted f2fs filesystem and an attacker-owned file are sufficient; winning the race crashes the kernel or creates kernel read and write primitives.

CVSS severity7.8
High
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

Race condition in the f2fs component of Linux allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through concurrent atomic-write aborts. The unlocked file-release abort can race the ioctl abort, causing both paths to drop the same COW inode reference while another thread still uses it. A mounted f2fs filesystem and an attacker-owned file are sufficient; winning the race crashes the kernel or creates kernel read and write primitives.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53838
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=3db1de0e582c358dd013f3703cd55b5fe4076436 <102b82708c1523b36d421cb8687746906069bc17
  2. Affected versionversion=3db1de0e582c358dd013f3703cd55b5fe4076436 <a46bebd502fe1a3bd1d22f64cedd93e7e7702693
  3. Affected versionversion=3db1de0e582c358dd013f3703cd55b5fe4076436 <b7724360714642099cec907f54f42e55f5325453
  4. Affected versionversion=5.18.18 <5.19
  5. Affected versionversion=5.19
  6. Affected versionversion=6db52f1944417c2601182a591a704e2f119c5215

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3db1de0e582c358dd013f3703cd55b5fe4076436 <102b82708c1523b36d421cb8687746906069bc17; version=3db1de0e582c358dd013f3703cd55b5fe4076436 <a46bebd502fe1a3bd1d22f64cedd93e7e7702693; version=3db1de0e582c358dd013f3703cd55b5fe4076436 <b7724360714642099cec907f54f42e55f5325453; version=5.18.18 <5.19; version=5.19; version=6db52f1944417c2601182a591a704e2f119c5215

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.

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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