Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nilfs2: fix potential UAF of...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
nilfs2: fix potential UAF of struct nilfs_sc_info in nilfs_segctor_thread()
The finalization of nilfs_segctor_thread() can race with
nilfs_segctor_kill_thread() which terminates that thread, potentially
causing a use-after-free BUG as KASAN detected.
At the end of nilfs_segctor_thread(), it assigns NULL to "sc_task" member
of "struct nilfs_sc_info" to indicate the thread has finished, and then
notifies nilfs_segctor_kill_thread() of this using waitqueue
"sc_wait_task" on the struct nilfs_sc_info.
However, here, immediately after the NULL assignment to "sc_task", it is
possible that nilfs_segctor_kill_thread() will detect it and return to
continue the deallocation, freeing the nilfs_sc_info structure before the
thread does the notification.
This fixes the issue by protecting the NULL assignment to "sc_task" and
its notification, with spinlock "sc_state_lock" of the struct
nilfs_sc_info. Since nilfs_segctor_kill_thread() does a final check to
see if "sc_task" is NULL with "sc_state_lock" locked, this can eliminate
the race.
Impact
Memory is accessed after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior in native code. Typical impact: memory corruption, crash, or potential code execution.
CVE-2023-53608 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2023-53608? CVE-2023-53608 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet. Memory is accessed after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior in native code.
- How severe is CVE-2023-53608? CVE-2023-53608 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2023-53608? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2023-53608 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2023-53608 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2023-53608 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2023-53608 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.