CVE-2023-53865

Kernel warning via stale qgroup rbtree root

Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated May 23, 2026

Improper cleanup in the Linux kernel btrfs qgroup abort path allows attackers to trigger a kernel warning via unspecified vectors. btrfs_qgroup_destroy_extent_records() frees dirty_extent_root entries without clearing the root, leaving btrfs_put_transaction() to inspect pointers to freed nodes. Reachability requires qgroups to be enabled and a transaction to abort; published evidence reports the warning but no crash, data loss, or code execution.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper cleanup in the Linux kernel btrfs qgroup abort path allows attackers to trigger a kernel warning via unspecified vectors. btrfs_qgroup_destroy_extent_records() frees dirty_extent_root entries without clearing the root, leaving btrfs_put_transaction() to inspect pointers to freed nodes. Reachability requires qgroups to be enabled and a transaction to abort; published evidence reports the warning but no crash, data loss, or code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53865
Published
Dec 9, 2025
Updated
May 23, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 9, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 23, 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=40ea30638d20c92b44107247415842b72c460459 <ae91ab710d8e309f6c9eba07ce0d9d0b5d9040f0
  2. Affected versionversion=4e2e49d4211db43e0ec932579dab6a969e7e8df1
  3. Affected versionversion=5.4.23 <5.4.251
  4. Affected versionversion=5.5.7 <5.6
  5. Affected versionversion=5.6
  6. Affected versionversion=81f7eb00ff5bb8326e82503a32809421d14abb8a <62dd82bc7a90b5052c062a0ad5be6d8a479a3cfb
  7. Affected versionversion=81f7eb00ff5bb8326e82503a32809421d14abb8a <89e994688e965813ec0a09fb30b87fb8cee06474
  8. Affected versionversion=81f7eb00ff5bb8326e82503a32809421d14abb8a <aa84ce8a78a1a5c10cdf9c7a5fb0c999fbc2c8d6
  9. Affected versionversion=81f7eb00ff5bb8326e82503a32809421d14abb8a <c9060caab4135dd660c4676d1ea33a6e0d3fc09d
  10. Affected versionversion=81f7eb00ff5bb8326e82503a32809421d14abb8a <d2c667cc18314c9bad3ec86ae071c0342132aa09

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=40ea30638d20c92b44107247415842b72c460459 <ae91ab710d8e309f6c9eba07ce0d9d0b5d9040f0; version=4e2e49d4211db43e0ec932579dab6a969e7e8df1; version=5.4.23 <5.4.251; version=5.5.7 <5.6; version=5.6; version=81f7eb00ff5bb8326e82503a32809421d14abb8a <62dd82bc7a90b5052c062a0ad5be6d8a479a3cfb; version=81f7eb00ff5bb8326e82503a32809421d14abb8a <89e994688e965813ec0a09fb30b87fb8cee06474; version=81f7eb00ff5bb8326e82503a32809421d14abb8a <aa84ce8a78a1a5c10cdf9c7a5fb0c999fbc2c8d6; version=81f7eb00ff5bb8326e82503a32809421d14abb8a <c9060caab4135dd660c4676d1ea33a6e0d3fc09d; version=81f7eb00ff5bb8326e82503a32809421d14abb8a <d2c667cc18314c9bad3ec86ae071c0342132aa09

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.

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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)
VectorUnavailable
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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