Linux Kernel up to 6.4.6 btrfs __extent_writepage privilege escalation

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 5.4 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.4.6. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function __extent_writepage of the component btrfs. Such manipulation leads to an unknown weakness.
This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2023-53429. No exploit exists.
It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
Details
A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.4.6 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function __extent_writepage of the component btrfs. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: don't check PageError in __extent_writepage __extent_writepage currenly sets PageError whenever any error happens, and the also checks for PageError to decide if to call error handling. This leads to very unclear responsibility for cleaning up on errors. In the VM and generic writeback helpers the basic idea is that once I/O is fired off all error handling responsibility is delegated to the end I/O handler. But if that end I/O handler sets the PageError bit, and the submitter checks it, the bit could in some cases leak into the submission context for fast enough I/O. Fix this by simply not checking PageError and just using the local ret variable to check for submission errors. This also fundamentally solves the long problem documented in a comment in __extent_writepage by never leaking the error bit into the submission context.
The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2023-53429 since 09/17/2025. The exploitation is known to be easy. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.
The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 265498 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53429), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.
Upgrading to version 6.4.7 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch d40be032ecd8ee1ca033bee43c7755d21fb4d72a/3e92499e3b004baffb479d61e191b41b604ece9a 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 (265498) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2092). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Affected
- Amazon Linux 2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- SUSE Linux
- Oracle Linux
- SUSE openSUSE
- RESF Rocky Linux
- Open Source Linux Kernel
- Dell Secure Connect Gateway
- IBM QRadar SIEM
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔒VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.5VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.4
VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒
CVSSv2
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Privilege escalationCWE: Unknown
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒
Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially
Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
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Nessus ID: 265498
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53429
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔒
Upgrade: Kernel 6.4.7
Patch: d40be032ecd8ee1ca033bee43c7755d21fb4d72a/3e92499e3b004baffb479d61e191b41b604ece9a
Timeline
09/17/2025 CVE reserved09/18/2025 Advisory disclosed
09/18/2025 VulDB entry created
12/12/2025 VulDB entry last update
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2023-53429 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-53429
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-324932
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2092 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service
Entry
Created: 09/18/2025 19:22Updated: 12/12/2025 01:00
Changes: 09/18/2025 19:22 (58), 09/20/2025 19:24 (7), 09/22/2025 14:48 (2), 11/29/2025 18:41 (1), 12/12/2025 01:00 (10)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
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