Linux Kernel up to 6.3.3 netlink netlink_recvmsg privilege escalation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.3.3. This impacts the function netlink_recvmsg of the component netlink. Such manipulation leads to an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2023-53853. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.3.3. Affected by this issue is the function netlink_recvmsg of the component netlink. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netlink: annotate accesses to nlk->cb_running Both netlink_recvmsg() and netlink_native_seq_show() read nlk->cb_running locklessly. Use READ_ONCE() there. Add corresponding WRITE_ONCE() to netlink_dump() and __netlink_dump_start() syzbot reported: BUG: KCSAN: data-race in __netlink_dump_start / netlink_recvmsg write to 0xffff88813ea4db59 of 1 bytes by task 28219 on cpu 0: __netlink_dump_start+0x3af/0x4d0 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:2399 netlink_dump_start include/linux/netlink.h:308 [inline] rtnetlink_rcv_msg+0x70f/0x8c0 net/core/rtnetlink.c:6130 netlink_rcv_skb+0x126/0x220 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:2577 rtnetlink_rcv+0x1c/0x20 net/core/rtnetlink.c:6192 netlink_unicast_kernel net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1339 [inline] netlink_unicast+0x56f/0x640 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1365 netlink_sendmsg+0x665/0x770 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1942 sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:724 [inline] sock_sendmsg net/socket.c:747 [inline] sock_write_iter+0x1aa/0x230 net/socket.c:1138 call_write_iter include/linux/fs.h:1851 [inline] new_sync_write fs/read_write.c:491 [inline] vfs_write+0x463/0x760 fs/read_write.c:584 ksys_write+0xeb/0x1a0 fs/read_write.c:637 __do_sys_write fs/read_write.c:649 [inline] __se_sys_write fs/read_write.c:646 [inline] __x64_sys_write+0x42/0x50 fs/read_write.c:646 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:50 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x41/0xc0 arch/x86/entry/common.c:80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd read to 0xffff88813ea4db59 of 1 bytes by task 28222 on cpu 1: netlink_recvmsg+0x3b4/0x730 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:2022 sock_recvmsg_nosec+0x4c/0x80 net/socket.c:1017 ____sys_recvmsg+0x2db/0x310 net/socket.c:2718 ___sys_recvmsg net/socket.c:2762 [inline] do_recvmmsg+0x2e5/0x710 net/socket.c:2856 __sys_recvmmsg net/socket.c:2935 [inline] __do_sys_recvmmsg net/socket.c:2958 [inline] __se_sys_recvmmsg net/socket.c:2951 [inline] __x64_sys_recvmmsg+0xe2/0x160 net/socket.c:2951 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:50 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x41/0xc0 arch/x86/entry/common.c:80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd value changed: 0x00 -> 0x01

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2023-53853 since 12/09/2025. The exploitation is known to be difficult. 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 03/30/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 298924 (SUSE SLES12 : Recommended update for initial livepatch (SUSE-SU-2026:0473-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.14.316, 4.19.284, 5.4.244, 5.10.181, 5.15.113, 6.1.30 or 6.3.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch e25e9d8a210ed78bdf0f364576dbee13aefadbf8/840a647499b093621167de56ffa8756dfc69f242/a507022c862e10744a92c4bf5709775450a110ad/f92557f79a60cb142258f5fa7194f327573fadd8/1d5c8b01f1df0461256a6d75854ed806f50645a3/a115dadf8995b1730c36c474401d97355705cb88/a939d14919b799e6fff8a9c80296ca229ba2f8a4 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 (298924) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2765). Once again VulDB remains the best 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

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.4

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

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Privilege escalation
CWE: Unknown
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 298924
Nessus Name: SUSE SLES12 : Recommended update for initial livepatch (SUSE-SU-2026:0473-1)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 4.14.316/4.19.284/5.4.244/5.10.181/5.15.113/6.1.30/6.3.4
Patch: e25e9d8a210ed78bdf0f364576dbee13aefadbf8/840a647499b093621167de56ffa8756dfc69f242/a507022c862e10744a92c4bf5709775450a110ad/f92557f79a60cb142258f5fa7194f327573fadd8/1d5c8b01f1df0461256a6d75854ed806f50645a3/a115dadf8995b1730c36c474401d97355705cb88/a939d14919b799e6fff8a9c80296ca229ba2f8a4

Timelineinfo

12/09/2025 Advisory disclosed
12/09/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
12/09/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
03/30/2026 +111 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-53853 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-53853
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-335036
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2765 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 12/09/2025 11:12
Updated: 03/30/2026 02:59
Changes: 12/09/2025 11:12 (58), 02/13/2026 21:09 (2), 03/30/2026 02:59 (7)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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