Linux: Use After Free
CVE-2023-53544 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 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 66b3bbe6fbd8dd410868e5b53ac3944a934b9310, a5f024d0e6f91e05c816ad4ee8837173369dd5cb, ab05ae4ab831f64bbc427592c86f599ed9c4324f 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 66b3bbe6fbd8dd410868e5b53ac3944a934b9310 or a5f024d0e6f91e05c816ad4ee8837173369dd5cb or ab05ae4ab831f64bbc427592c86f599ed9c4324f or 5d8f384a9b4fc50f6a18405f1c08e5a87a77b5b3, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 4.14.308 or 6.1.16 or 6.2.3, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6601b8030de3e9c29930684eeac15302a59f991a up to, but not including, 66b3bbe6fbd8dd410868e5b53ac3944a934b9310; 6601b8030de3e9c29930684eeac15302a59f991a up to, but not including, a5f024d0e6f91e05c816ad4ee8837173369dd5cb; 6601b8030de3e9c29930684eeac15302a59f991a up to, but not including, ab05ae4ab831f64bbc427592c86f599ed9c4324f; 6601b8030de3e9c29930684eeac15302a59f991a up to, but not including, 5d8f384a9b4fc50f6a18405f1c08e5a87a77b5b3; 2.6.33 | 66b3bbe6fbd8dd410868e5b53ac3944a934b9310, a5f024d0e6f91e05c816ad4ee8837173369dd5cb, ab05ae4ab831f64bbc427592c86f599ed9c4324f, 5d8f384a9b4fc50f6a18405f1c08e5a87a77b5b3 |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 2.6.33 up to, but not including, 4.14.308; 4.15 up to, but not including, 6.1.16; 6.2 up to, but not including, 6.2.3 | 4.14.308, 6.1.16, 6.2.3 |
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
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- 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:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cpufreq: davinci: Fix clk use after free The remove function first frees the clks and only then calls cpufreq_unregister_driver(). If one of the cpufreq callbacks is called just before cpufreq_unregister_driver() is run, the freed clks might be used.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use After Free
The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
- When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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