Linux Kernel up to 6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3 block blk_trace_shutdown privilege escalation

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3. It has been classified as critical. Affected is the function blk_trace_shutdown of the component block. Performing a manipulation results in an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2023-54209. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3. This affects the function blk_trace_shutdown of the component block. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: block: fix blktrace debugfs entries leakage Commit 99d055b4fd4b ("block: remove per-disk debugfs files in blk_unregister_queue") moves blk_trace_shutdown() from blk_release_queue() to blk_unregister_queue(), this is safe if blktrace is created through sysfs, however, there is a regression in corner case. blktrace can still be enabled after del_gendisk() through ioctl if the disk is opened before del_gendisk(), and if blktrace is not shutdown through ioctl before closing the disk, debugfs entries will be leaked. Fix this problem by shutdown blktrace in disk_release(), this is safe because blk_trace_remove() is reentrant.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2023-54209 since 12/30/2025. The exploitability is told to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 04/26/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 281549 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54209), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.39, 6.3.13 or 6.4.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch aa07e56c6a9c7558165690d14eed4fe8babf34fb/7149e57cf01184fba175589f8fbe9fbf33be02e1/942e81650b81b4ca62f1d8c61de455c9e7c7e6ca/dd7de3704af9989b780693d51eaea49a665bd9c2 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 (281549) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2941). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• IBM Power Hardware Management Console
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux
• IBM DataPower Gateway

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
• 6.3.0
• 6.3.1
• 6.3.2
• 6.3.3
• 6.3.4
• 6.3.5
• 6.3.6
• 6.3.7
• 6.3.8
• 6.3.9
• 6.3.10
• 6.3.11
• 6.3.12
• 6.4.0
• 6.4.1
• 6.4.2
• 6.4.3

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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