CVE-2023-54309

Local kernel memory corruption via vtpmx race

Published Dec 30, 2025 · Updated Dec 30, 2025

Race condition in the vtpm proxy in Linux allows local users to corrupt kernel memory by racing /dev/vtpmx device creation. The driver registers the misc device before its workqueue is initialized, so an immediate open can reach a partially initialized proxy object. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access and high-complexity timing; the documented consequence is kernel-memory corruption that can damage integrity or interrupt the host.

CVSS severity6.3
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

Race condition in the vtpm proxy in Linux allows local users to corrupt kernel memory by racing /dev/vtpmx device creation. The driver registers the misc device before its workqueue is initialized, so an immediate open can reach a partially initialized proxy object. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access and high-complexity timing; the documented consequence is kernel-memory corruption that can damage integrity or interrupt the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54309
Published
Dec 30, 2025
Updated
Dec 30, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
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=4.8
  2. Affected versionversion=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <04e8697d26613ccea760cf57eb20a5a27f788c0f
  3. Affected versionversion=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <092db954e2c3c5ba6c0ce990c7da72cf8f3b9c51
  4. Affected versionversion=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <509d21f1c4bb9d35d397fca3226165b156a7639f
  5. Affected versionversion=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <86b9820395f226b8f33cbae9599deebf8af1ce72
  6. Affected versionversion=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <99b998fb9d7d2d2d9dbb3e19db2d0ade02f5a604
  7. Affected versionversion=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <9ff7fcb3a2ed0e9b895bb5b4c13872d584a8815b
  8. Affected versionversion=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <e08295290c53a3cf174c236721747a01b9550ae2
  9. Affected versionversion=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <f4032d615f90970d6c3ac1d9c0bce3351eb4445c

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.8; version=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <04e8697d26613ccea760cf57eb20a5a27f788c0f; version=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <092db954e2c3c5ba6c0ce990c7da72cf8f3b9c51; version=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <509d21f1c4bb9d35d397fca3226165b156a7639f; version=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <86b9820395f226b8f33cbae9599deebf8af1ce72; version=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <99b998fb9d7d2d2d9dbb3e19db2d0ade02f5a604; version=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <9ff7fcb3a2ed0e9b895bb5b4c13872d584a8815b; version=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <e08295290c53a3cf174c236721747a01b9550ae2; version=6f99612e250041a2402d3b1694bccb149cd424a4 <f4032d615f90970d6c3ac1d9c0bce3351eb4445c

Published CVSS scores

6.3SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
5.8SUSECVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

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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