Linux Kernel up to 5.10.177/5.15.106/6.1.23/6.2.10 net qrtr_recvmsg use after free

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 6.6 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.177/5.15.106/6.1.23/6.2.10. This affects the function qrtr_recvmsg of the component net. The manipulation results in use after free.
This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-53445. There is no available exploit.
It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.
Details
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.177/5.15.106/6.1.23/6.2.10. Affected is the function qrtr_recvmsg of the component net. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: qrtr: Fix a refcount bug in qrtr_recvmsg() Syzbot reported a bug as following: refcount_t: addition on 0; use-after-free. ... RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0x17c/0x1f0 lib/refcount.c:25 ... Call Trace: <TASK> __refcount_add include/linux/refcount.h:199 [inline] __refcount_inc include/linux/refcount.h:250 [inline] refcount_inc include/linux/refcount.h:267 [inline] kref_get include/linux/kref.h:45 [inline] qrtr_node_acquire net/qrtr/af_qrtr.c:202 [inline] qrtr_node_lookup net/qrtr/af_qrtr.c:398 [inline] qrtr_send_resume_tx net/qrtr/af_qrtr.c:1003 [inline] qrtr_recvmsg+0x85f/0x990 net/qrtr/af_qrtr.c:1070 sock_recvmsg_nosec net/socket.c:1017 [inline] sock_recvmsg+0xe2/0x160 net/socket.c:1038 qrtr_ns_worker+0x170/0x1700 net/qrtr/ns.c:688 process_one_work+0x991/0x15c0 kernel/workqueue.c:2390 worker_thread+0x669/0x1090 kernel/workqueue.c:2537 It occurs in the concurrent scenario of qrtr_recvmsg() and qrtr_endpoint_unregister() as following: cpu0 cpu1 qrtr_recvmsg qrtr_endpoint_unregister qrtr_send_resume_tx qrtr_node_release qrtr_node_lookup mutex_lock(&qrtr_node_lock) spin_lock_irqsave(&qrtr_nodes_lock, ) refcount_dec_and_test(&node->ref) [node->ref == 0] radix_tree_lookup [node != NULL] __qrtr_node_release qrtr_node_acquire spin_lock_irqsave(&qrtr_nodes_lock, ) kref_get(&node->ref) [WARNING] ... mutex_unlock(&qrtr_node_lock) Use qrtr_node_lock to protect qrtr_node_lookup() implementation, this is actually improving the protection of node reference.
The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2023-53445 since 09/17/2025. The exploitability is told 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 12/13/2025).
The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 265507 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53445), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.
Upgrading to version 5.10.178, 5.15.107, 6.1.24 or 6.2.11 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 98a9cd82c541ef6cbdb829cd6c05cbbb471e373c/b9ba5906c42089f8e1d0001b7b50a7940f086cbb/aa95efa187b4114075f312b3c4680d050b56fdec/48a07f6e00d305597396da4d7494b81cec05b9d3/44d807320000db0d0013372ad39b53e12d52f758 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 (265507) 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
- 5.10.177
- 5.15.106
- 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
- 6.2.0
- 6.2.1
- 6.2.2
- 6.2.3
- 6.2.4
- 6.2.5
- 6.2.6
- 6.2.7
- 6.2.8
- 6.2.9
- 6.2.10
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔒VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.8VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.6
VulDB Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒
CVSSv2
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| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Use after freeCWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
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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| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Nessus ID: 265507
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53445
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔒
Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.178/5.15.107/6.1.24/6.2.11
Patch: 98a9cd82c541ef6cbdb829cd6c05cbbb471e373c/b9ba5906c42089f8e1d0001b7b50a7940f086cbb/aa95efa187b4114075f312b3c4680d050b56fdec/48a07f6e00d305597396da4d7494b81cec05b9d3/44d807320000db0d0013372ad39b53e12d52f758
Timeline
09/17/2025 CVE reserved09/18/2025 Advisory disclosed
09/18/2025 VulDB entry created
12/13/2025 VulDB entry last update
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2023-53445 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-53445
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-324948
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2092 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service
Entry
Created: 09/18/2025 19:25Updated: 12/13/2025 04:25
Changes: 09/18/2025 19:25 (59), 09/20/2025 20:46 (7), 09/22/2025 13:40 (2), 11/29/2025 19:33 (1), 12/13/2025 04:25 (12)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
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