Linux Kernel up to 6.1.52/6.4.15/6.5.2 Bluetooth hci_add_adv_monitor use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.52/6.4.15/6.5.2. Affected is the function hci_add_adv_monitor of the component Bluetooth. The manipulation leads to use after free. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2023-53828. No exploit is available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.52/6.4.15/6.5.2. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function hci_add_adv_monitor of the component Bluetooth. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: hci_sync: Avoid use-after-free in dbg for hci_add_adv_monitor() KSAN reports use-after-free in hci_add_adv_monitor(). While adding an adv monitor, hci_add_adv_monitor() calls -> msft_add_monitor_pattern() calls -> msft_add_monitor_sync() calls -> msft_le_monitor_advertisement_cb() calls in an error case -> hci_free_adv_monitor() which frees the *moniter. This is referenced by bt_dev_dbg() in hci_add_adv_monitor(). Fix the bt_dev_dbg() by using handle instead of monitor->handle.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2023-53828 since 12/09/2025. The exploitation is known to be easy. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 03/30/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.1.53, 6.4.16 or 6.5.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 81d8e9f59df63b8358751c1ffed9f1cf5c796909/aafda69d4807f5edf3558c9534be9b911774e63a/8d66f7ced51cb924bc90278d6a0a26a52877271a/a2bcd2b63271a93a695fabbfbf459c603d956d48 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 CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2765). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux

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
• 6.1.22
• 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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Entryinfo

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