CVE-2023-54077

Kernel memory corruption via inconsistent NTFS inode state

Published Dec 24, 2025 · Updated Dec 24, 2025

Memory corruption in the Linux kernel ntfs3 driver allows attackers to crash the kernel by supplying a crafted NTFS volume. In ntfs_read_mft(), an $INDEX_ROOT name can set is_root without NI_FLAG_DIR before $INDEX_ALLOCATION allocates dir.alloc_run, so ni_clear() frees the wrong union member and leaves a bogus runs-tree pointer. Exploitation requires a victim or automounter to mount the volume; the resulting out-of-bounds access, invalid free, and leak can expose kernel data, corrupt allocator state, or cause a kernel oops.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in the Linux kernel ntfs3 driver allows attackers to crash the kernel by supplying a crafted NTFS volume. In ntfs_read_mft(), an $INDEX_ROOT name can set is_root without NI_FLAG_DIR before $INDEX_ALLOCATION allocates dir.alloc_run, so ni_clear() frees the wrong union member and leaves a bogus runs-tree pointer. Exploitation requires a victim or automounter to mount the volume; the resulting out-of-bounds access, invalid free, and leak can expose kernel data, corrupt allocator state, or cause a kernel oops.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54077
Published
Dec 24, 2025
Updated
Dec 24, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 24, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 24, 2025Record 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=5.15
  2. Affected versionversion=82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17 <1bc6bb657dfb0ab3b94ef6d477ca241bf7b6ec06
  3. Affected versionversion=82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17 <3030f2b9b3329db3948c1a145a5493ca6f617d50
  4. Affected versionversion=82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17 <3bb0d3eb475f01744ce6d6e998dfbd80220852a1
  5. Affected versionversion=82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17 <93bf79f989688852deade1550fb478b0a4d8daa8
  6. Affected versionversion=82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17 <bfa434c60157c9793e9b12c9b68ade02aff9f803

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.15; version=82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17 <1bc6bb657dfb0ab3b94ef6d477ca241bf7b6ec06; version=82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17 <3030f2b9b3329db3948c1a145a5493ca6f617d50; version=82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17 <3bb0d3eb475f01744ce6d6e998dfbd80220852a1; version=82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17 <93bf79f989688852deade1550fb478b0a4d8daa8; version=82cae269cfa953032fbb8980a7d554d60fb00b17 <bfa434c60157c9793e9b12c9b68ade02aff9f803

Published CVSS scores

7.8LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Canonical UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

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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