CVE-2023-53857

Invalid wait context via allocation under raw spinlock

Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Improper memory allocation in Linux 5.18 through 6.5.3 allows local users to trigger an invalid wait-context condition. bpf_local_storage_update allocates socket-storage memory with kzalloc after acquiring a raw spinlock, creating an allocation path that is unsafe in real-time tracing contexts. Reaching the path requires a tracing BPF program with a verifier-accepted socket pointer; the published reproducer produced a lockdep splat, with no crash or broader impact reported.

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 memory allocation in Linux 5.18 through 6.5.3 allows local users to trigger an invalid wait-context condition. bpf_local_storage_update allocates socket-storage memory with kzalloc after acquiring a raw spinlock, creating an allocation path that is unsafe in real-time tracing contexts. Reaching the path requires a tracing BPF program with a verifier-accepted socket pointer; the published reproducer produced a lockdep splat, with no crash or broader impact reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53857
Published
Dec 9, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

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=5.18
  2. Affected versionversion=b00fa38a9c1cba044a32a601b49a55a18ed719d1 <300415caa373a07782fcbc2f8d9429bc2dc27a47
  3. Affected versionversion=b00fa38a9c1cba044a32a601b49a55a18ed719d1 <a96a44aba556c42b432929d37d60158aca21ad4c

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.18; version=b00fa38a9c1cba044a32a601b49a55a18ed719d1 <300415caa373a07782fcbc2f8d9429bc2dc27a47; version=b00fa38a9c1cba044a32a601b49a55a18ed719d1 <a96a44aba556c42b432929d37d60158aca21ad4c

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
Privilegesadmin
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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