Linux Kernel up to 6.5.2 buffer_size initialization

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6.1	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.5.2. The impacted element is the function buffer_size. Performing a manipulation results in initialization. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2023-53331. No exploit exists. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.5.2. This affects the function buffer_size. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a initialization vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-665. The product does not initialize or incorrectly initializes a resource, which might leave the resource in an unexpected state when it is accessed or used. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pstore/ram: Check start of empty przs during init After commit 30696378f68a ("pstore/ram: Do not treat empty buffers as valid"), initialization would assume a prz was valid after seeing that the buffer_size is zero (regardless of the buffer start position). This unchecked start value means it could be outside the bounds of the buffer, leading to future access panics when written to: sysdump_panic_event+0x3b4/0x5b8 atomic_notifier_call_chain+0x54/0x90 panic+0x1c8/0x42c die+0x29c/0x2a8 die_kernel_fault+0x68/0x78 __do_kernel_fault+0x1c4/0x1e0 do_bad_area+0x40/0x100 do_translation_fault+0x68/0x80 do_mem_abort+0x68/0xf8 el1_da+0x1c/0xc0 __raw_writeb+0x38/0x174 __memcpy_toio+0x40/0xac persistent_ram_update+0x44/0x12c persistent_ram_write+0x1a8/0x1b8 ramoops_pstore_write+0x198/0x1e8 pstore_console_write+0x94/0xe0 ... To avoid this, also check if the prz start is 0 during the initialization phase. If not, the next prz sanity check case will discover it (start > size) and zap the buffer back to a sane state. [kees: update commit log with backtrace and clarifications]

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2023-53331 since 09/16/2025. The exploitability is told to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 265158 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53331), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.14.326, 4.19.295, 5.4.257, 5.10.195, 5.15.132, 6.1.53, 6.4.16 or 6.5.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 89312657337e6e03ad6e9ea1a462bd9c158c85c8/c807ccdd812d18985860504b503899f3140a9549/e972231db29b5d1dccc13bf9d5ba55b6979a69ed/dc2f60de9a7d3efd982440117dab5579898d808c/fedecaeef88899d940b69368c996e8b3b0b8650d/e95d7a8a6edd14f8fab44c777dd7281db91f6ae2/f77990358628b01bdc03752126ff5f716ea37615/25fb4e3402d46f425ec135ef6f09792a4c1b3003/fe8c3623ab06603eb760444a032d426542212021 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 databases at Tenable (265158) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2077). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• SUSE openSUSE
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 4.14.325
• 4.19.294
• 5.4.256
• 5.10.194
• 5.15.131
• 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
• 6.1.22
• 6.1.23
• 6.1.24
• 6.1.25
• 6.1.26
• 6.1.27
• 6.1.28
• 6.1.29
• 6.1.30
• 6.1.31
• 6.1.32
• 6.1.33
• 6.1.34
• 6.1.35
• 6.1.36
• 6.1.37
• 6.1.38
• 6.1.39
• 6.1.40
• 6.1.41
• 6.1.42
• 6.1.43
• 6.1.44
• 6.1.45
• 6.1.46
• 6.1.47
• 6.1.48
• 6.1.49
• 6.1.50
• 6.1.51
• 6.1.52
• 6.4.0
• 6.4.1
• 6.4.2
• 6.4.3
• 6.4.4
• 6.4.5
• 6.4.6
• 6.4.7
• 6.4.8
• 6.4.9
• 6.4.10
• 6.4.11
• 6.4.12
• 6.4.13
• 6.4.14
• 6.4.15
• 6.5.0
• 6.5.1
• 6.5.2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.2
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.1

VulDB Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Temp Score: 4.4
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Initialization
CWE: CWE-665
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 265158
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53331

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 4.14.326/4.19.295/5.4.257/5.10.195/5.15.132/6.1.53/6.4.16/6.5.3
Patch: 89312657337e6e03ad6e9ea1a462bd9c158c85c8/c807ccdd812d18985860504b503899f3140a9549/e972231db29b5d1dccc13bf9d5ba55b6979a69ed/dc2f60de9a7d3efd982440117dab5579898d808c/fedecaeef88899d940b69368c996e8b3b0b8650d/e95d7a8a6edd14f8fab44c777dd7281db91f6ae2/f77990358628b01bdc03752126ff5f716ea37615/25fb4e3402d46f425ec135ef6f09792a4c1b3003/fe8c3623ab06603eb760444a032d426542212021

Timelineinfo

09/16/2025 Advisory disclosed
09/16/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
09/16/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
12/27/2025 +102 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-53331 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-53331
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-324507
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2077 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 09/16/2025 20:34
Updated: 12/27/2025 12:28
Changes: 09/16/2025 20:34 (58), 09/20/2025 15:37 (2), 10/21/2025 06:17 (7), 12/10/2025 21:41 (11), 12/27/2025 12:28 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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Discussion

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