Linux Kernel up to 6.1.21/6.2.8 Bluetooth hci_cmd_sync_clear use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.21/6.2.8. This affects the function hci_cmd_sync_clear of the component Bluetooth. Executing a manipulation can lead to use after free. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2023-53046. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.21/6.2.8. This vulnerability affects the function hci_cmd_sync_clear of the component Bluetooth. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: Fix race condition in hci_cmd_sync_clear There is a potential race condition in hci_cmd_sync_work and hci_cmd_sync_clear, and could lead to use-after-free. For instance, hci_cmd_sync_work is added to the 'req_workqueue' after cancel_work_sync The entry of 'cmd_sync_work_list' may be freed in hci_cmd_sync_clear, and causing kernel panic when it is used in 'hci_cmd_sync_work'. Here's the call trace: dump_stack_lvl+0x49/0x63 print_report.cold+0x5e/0x5d3 ? hci_cmd_sync_work+0x282/0x320 kasan_report+0xaa/0x120 ? hci_cmd_sync_work+0x282/0x320 __asan_report_load8_noabort+0x14/0x20 hci_cmd_sync_work+0x282/0x320 process_one_work+0x77b/0x11c0 ? _raw_spin_lock_irq+0x8e/0xf0 worker_thread+0x544/0x1180 ? poll_idle+0x1e0/0x1e0 kthread+0x285/0x320 ? process_one_work+0x11c0/0x11c0 ? kthread_complete_and_exit+0x30/0x30 ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30 </TASK> Allocated by task 266: kasan_save_stack+0x26/0x50 __kasan_kmalloc+0xae/0xe0 kmem_cache_alloc_trace+0x191/0x350 hci_cmd_sync_queue+0x97/0x2b0 hci_update_passive_scan+0x176/0x1d0 le_conn_complete_evt+0x1b5/0x1a00 hci_le_conn_complete_evt+0x234/0x340 hci_le_meta_evt+0x231/0x4e0 hci_event_packet+0x4c5/0xf00 hci_rx_work+0x37d/0x880 process_one_work+0x77b/0x11c0 worker_thread+0x544/0x1180 kthread+0x285/0x320 ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30 Freed by task 269: kasan_save_stack+0x26/0x50 kasan_set_track+0x25/0x40 kasan_set_free_info+0x24/0x40 ____kasan_slab_free+0x176/0x1c0 __kasan_slab_free+0x12/0x20 slab_free_freelist_hook+0x95/0x1a0 kfree+0xba/0x2f0 hci_cmd_sync_clear+0x14c/0x210 hci_unregister_dev+0xff/0x440 vhci_release+0x7b/0xf0 __fput+0x1f3/0x970 ____fput+0xe/0x20 task_work_run+0xd4/0x160 do_exit+0x8b0/0x22a0 do_group_exit+0xba/0x2a0 get_signal+0x1e4a/0x25b0 arch_do_signal_or_restart+0x93/0x1f80 exit_to_user_mode_prepare+0xf5/0x1a0 syscall_exit_to_user_mode+0x26/0x50 ret_from_fork+0x15/0x30

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-53046 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be easy. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 11/12/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 247003 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53046), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.22 or 6.2.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 608901a77c945ac15dea23f6098c9882ef19d9f0/be586211a3ab40a4f4ca60450e0d31606afc55ec/1c66bee492a5fe00ae3fe890bb693bfc99f994c6 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (247003). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.0
• 6.1.1
• 6.1.2
• 6.1.3
• 6.1.4
• 6.1.5
• 6.1.6
• 6.1.7
• 6.1.8
• 6.1.9
• 6.1.10
• 6.1.11
• 6.1.12
• 6.1.13
• 6.1.14
• 6.1.15
• 6.1.16
• 6.1.17
• 6.1.18
• 6.1.19
• 6.1.20
• 6.1.21
• 6.2.0
• 6.2.1
• 6.2.2
• 6.2.3
• 6.2.4
• 6.2.5
• 6.2.6
• 6.2.7
• 6.2.8

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Discussion