Linux: Out-of-bounds Read
CVE-2023-53420 is a high-severity out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions f3380d895e28a32632eb3609f5bd515adee4e5a1, c86a2517df6c9304db8fb12b77136ec7a5d85994, 721b75ea2dfce53a8890dff92ae01afca8e74f88 as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.16% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux to f3380d895e28a32632eb3609f5bd515adee4e5a1 or c86a2517df6c9304db8fb12b77136ec7a5d85994 or 721b75ea2dfce53a8890dff92ae01afca8e74f88 or 3c675ddffb17a8b1e32efad5c983254af18b12c2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 5.15.121 or 6.1.39 or 6.4.4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 up to, but not including, f3380d895e28a32632eb3609f5bd515adee4e5a1; be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 up to, but not including, c86a2517df6c9304db8fb12b77136ec7a5d85994; be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 up to, but not including, 721b75ea2dfce53a8890dff92ae01afca8e74f88; be71b5cba2e6485e8959da7a9f9a44461a1bb074 up to, but not including, 3c675ddffb17a8b1e32efad5c983254af18b12c2; 5.15 | f3380d895e28a32632eb3609f5bd515adee4e5a1, c86a2517df6c9304db8fb12b77136ec7a5d85994, 721b75ea2dfce53a8890dff92ae01afca8e74f88, 3c675ddffb17a8b1e32efad5c983254af18b12c2 |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 5.15 up to, but not including, 5.15.121; 5.16 up to, but not including, 6.1.39; 6.2 up to, but not including, 6.4.4 | 5.15.121, 6.1.39, 6.4.4 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.1 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.1 | High | CISA (ADP) |
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ntfs: Fix panic about slab-out-of-bounds caused by ntfs_listxattr() Here is a BUG report from syzbot: BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in ntfs_list_ea fs/ntfs3/xattr.c:191 [inline] BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in ntfs_listxattr+0x401/0x570 fs/ntfs3/xattr.c:710 Read of size 1 at addr ffff888021acaf3d by task syz-executor128/3632 Call Trace: ntfs_list_ea fs/ntfs3/xattr.c:191 [inline] ntfs_listxattr+0x401/0x570 fs/ntfs3/xattr.c:710 vfs_listxattr fs/xattr.c:457 [inline] listxattr+0x293/0x2d0 fs/xattr.c:804 Fix the logic of ea_all iteration. When the ea->name_len is 0, return immediately, or Add2Ptr() would visit invalid memory in the next loop. [[email protected]: lines of the patch have changed]
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Out-of-bounds Read
The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a language that provides appropriate memory abstractions.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Recent Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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