CVE-2023-54173

Kernel crash via preemptible BPF event output

Published Dec 30, 2025 · Updated Dec 30, 2025

Race condition in Linux kernel 5.7 through 6.4.9 allows local users to crash the kernel through BPF event output. bpf_event_output leaves preemption enabled while using per-CPU nesting protection, so a task switch can make two tasks reuse one perf_sample_data buffer. Reachability requires an installed cgroup BPF program that calls the helper; triggering the race can dereference an invalid kernel address and interrupt the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.15%
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 Linux kernel 5.7 through 6.4.9 allows local users to crash the kernel through BPF event output. bpf_event_output leaves preemption enabled while using per-CPU nesting protection, so a task switch can make two tasks reuse one perf_sample_data buffer. Reachability requires an installed cgroup BPF program that calls the helper; triggering the race can dereference an invalid kernel address and interrupt the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54173
Published
Dec 30, 2025
Updated
Dec 30, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 30, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 30, 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=2a916f2f546ca1c1e3323e2a4269307f6d9890eb <063c9ce8e74e07bf94f99cd13146f42867875e8b
  2. Affected versionversion=2a916f2f546ca1c1e3323e2a4269307f6d9890eb <3048cb0dc0cc9dc74ed93690dffef00733bcad5b
  3. Affected versionversion=2a916f2f546ca1c1e3323e2a4269307f6d9890eb <36dd8ca330b76585640ed32255a3c99f901e1502
  4. Affected versionversion=2a916f2f546ca1c1e3323e2a4269307f6d9890eb <c81bdf8f9f2b002d217c3d5357cdea9f2b82ff90
  5. Affected versionversion=2a916f2f546ca1c1e3323e2a4269307f6d9890eb <d62cc390c2e99ae267ffe4b8d7e2e08b6c758c32
  6. Affected versionversion=5.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2a916f2f546ca1c1e3323e2a4269307f6d9890eb <063c9ce8e74e07bf94f99cd13146f42867875e8b; version=2a916f2f546ca1c1e3323e2a4269307f6d9890eb <3048cb0dc0cc9dc74ed93690dffef00733bcad5b; version=2a916f2f546ca1c1e3323e2a4269307f6d9890eb <36dd8ca330b76585640ed32255a3c99f901e1502; version=2a916f2f546ca1c1e3323e2a4269307f6d9890eb <c81bdf8f9f2b002d217c3d5357cdea9f2b82ff90; version=2a916f2f546ca1c1e3323e2a4269307f6d9890eb <d62cc390c2e99ae267ffe4b8d7e2e08b6c758c32; version=5.7

Published CVSS scores

7.8UbuntuCVSS:3.0/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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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