CVE-2023-54112

Kernel-memory exhaustion via stale KCM send cursor

Published Dec 24, 2025 · Updated Dec 24, 2025

Memory leak in the Linux kernel KCM send path allows local users to exhaust kernel memory through crafted socket send errors. The kcm_sendmsg() error path leaves last_skb pointing to an obsolete buffer after a partial copy, so a later send corrupts the head frag_list and leaks the allocated buffer. Low-privileged local access and KCM socket use are required; repeated triggering consumes kernel memory and can interrupt service.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
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

Memory leak in the Linux kernel KCM send path allows local users to exhaust kernel memory through crafted socket send errors. The kcm_sendmsg() error path leaves last_skb pointing to an obsolete buffer after a partial copy, so a later send corrupts the head frag_list and leaks the allocated buffer. Low-privileged local access and KCM socket use are required; repeated triggering consumes kernel memory and can interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54112
Published
Dec 24, 2025
Updated
Dec 24, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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=4.6
  2. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <16989de75497574b5fafd174c0c233d5a86858b7
  3. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <33db24ad811b3576a0c2f8862506763f2be925b0
  4. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <479c71cda14b3c3a6515773faa39055333eaa2b7
  5. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <5e5554389397e98fafb9efe395d8b4830dd5f042
  6. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <8dc7eb757b1652b82725f32e0c89a1e9f6c0e13b
  7. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <97275339c34cfbccd65e87bc38fd910ae66c48ba
  8. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <af8085e0fc3207ecbf8b9e7a635c790e36d058c6
  9. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <c821a88bd720b0046433173185fd841a100d44ad

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.6; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <16989de75497574b5fafd174c0c233d5a86858b7; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <33db24ad811b3576a0c2f8862506763f2be925b0; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <479c71cda14b3c3a6515773faa39055333eaa2b7; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <5e5554389397e98fafb9efe395d8b4830dd5f042; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <8dc7eb757b1652b82725f32e0c89a1e9f6c0e13b; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <97275339c34cfbccd65e87bc38fd910ae66c48ba; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <af8085e0fc3207ecbf8b9e7a635c790e36d058c6; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <c821a88bd720b0046433173185fd841a100d44ad

Published CVSS scores

5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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