CVE-2023-54198

Kernel compromise via unchecked tty array index

Published Dec 30, 2025 · Updated Dec 30, 2025

Out-of-bounds access in the Linux kernel tty subsystem allows local users to crash or compromise the kernel through a console open. tty_driver_lookup_tty() reads the tty pointer at an attacker-controlled index without confirming that the index falls within the driver's allocated tty range. Reachability requires access to an exposed console character device or an invalid console= boot argument; the resulting wild pointer can panic the kernel or corrupt kernel memory.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
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

Out-of-bounds access in the Linux kernel tty subsystem allows local users to crash or compromise the kernel through a console open. tty_driver_lookup_tty() reads the tty pointer at an attacker-controlled index without confirming that the index falls within the driver's allocated tty range. Reachability requires access to an exposed console character device or an invalid console= boot argument; the resulting wild pointer can panic the kernel or corrupt kernel memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54198
Published
Dec 30, 2025
Updated
Dec 30, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <3df6f492f500a16c231f07ccc6f6ed1302caddf9
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <765566110eb0da3cf60198b0165ecceeaafa6444
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <84ea44dc3e4ecb2632586238014bf6722aa5843b
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <953a4a352a0c185460ae1449e4c6e6658e55fdfc
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <b79109d6470aaae7062998353e3a19449055829d
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <db4df8e9d79e7d37732c1a1b560958e8dadfefa1
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f9d9d25ad1f0d060eaf297a2f7f03b5855a45561
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <fcfeaa570f7a5c2d5f4f14931909531ff18b7fde

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <3df6f492f500a16c231f07ccc6f6ed1302caddf9; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <765566110eb0da3cf60198b0165ecceeaafa6444; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <84ea44dc3e4ecb2632586238014bf6722aa5843b; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <953a4a352a0c185460ae1449e4c6e6658e55fdfc; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <b79109d6470aaae7062998353e3a19449055829d; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <db4df8e9d79e7d37732c1a1b560958e8dadfefa1; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f9d9d25ad1f0d060eaf297a2f7f03b5855a45561; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <fcfeaa570f7a5c2d5f4f14931909531ff18b7fde

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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