Use-After-Free in Linux kernel (CVE-2023-53537)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2023-53537). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
f2fs: fix to avoid use-after-free for cached IPU bio
xfstest generic/019 reports a bug:
kernel BUG at mm/filemap.c:1619!
RIP: 0010:folio_end_writeback+0x8a/0x90
Call Trace:
end_page_writeback+0x1c/0x60
f2fs_write_end_io+0x199/0x420
bio_endio+0x104/0x180
submit_bio_noacct+0xa5/0x510
submit_bio+0x48/0x80
f2fs_submit_write_bio+0x35/0x300
f2fs_submit_merged_ipu_write+0x2a0/0x2b0
f2fs_write_single_data_page+0x838/0x8b0
f2fs_write_cache_pages+0x379/0xa30
f2fs_write_data_pages+0x30c/0x340
do_writepages+0xd8/0x1b0
__writeback_single_inode+0x44/0x370
writeback_sb_inodes+0x233/0x4d0
__writeback_inodes_wb+0x56/0xf0
wb_writeback+0x1dd/0x2d0
wb_workfn+0x367/0x4a0
process_one_work+0x21d/0x430
worker_thread+0x4e/0x3c0
kthread+0x103/0x130
ret_from_fork+0x2c/0x50
The root cause is: after cp_error is set, f2fs_submit_merged_ipu_write()
in f2fs_write_single_data_page() tries to flush IPU bio in cache, however
f2fs_submit_merged_ipu_write() missed to check validity of @bio parameter,
result in submitting random cached bio which belong to other IO context,
then it will cause use-after-free issue, fix it by adding additional
validity check.
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2023-53537 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 7.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2023-53537" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2023-53537 (Linux kernel) — CWE-416 / CVSS v3 7.8
Attack vector: local / no user interaction
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
Use-after-free (CWE-416) exists in Linux kernel.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Audit SBOM/dependencies to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
Audit SBOM/dependencies for affected components.資産台帳・SBOM・依存マニフェストで Linux kernel を使っているサービスとバージョンを洗い出す。
-
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Affected packages
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53537 linux Fixed in: 5.10.191-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53537 linux-hwe-edge
References
- advisory github.com
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- package git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org