🛡️ CVE-2023-53138 on Ubuntu — linux
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: caif: Fix use-after-free in cfusbl_device_notify() syzbot reported use-after-free in cfusbl_device_notify() [1]. This causes a stack trace like below: BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in cfusbl_device_notify+0x7c9/0x870 net/caif/caif_usb.c:138 Read of size 8 at addr ffff88807ac4e6f0 by task kworker/u4:6/1214 CPU: 0 PID: 1214 Comm: kworker/u4:6 Not tainted 5.19.0-rc3-syzkaller-00146-g92f20ff72066 #0 Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 01/01/2011 Workqueue: netns cleanup_net Call Trace: <TASK> __dump_stack lib/dump_stack.c:88 [inline] dump_stack_lvl+0xcd/0x134 lib/dump_stack.c:106 print_address_description.constprop.0.cold+0xeb/0x467 mm/kasan/report.c:313 print_report mm/kasan/report.c:429 [inline] kasan_report.cold+0xf4/0x1c6 mm/kasan/report.c:491 cfusbl_device_notify+0x7c9/0x870 net/caif/caif_usb.c:138 notifier_call_chain+0xb5/0x200 kernel/notifier.c:87 call_netdevice_notifiers_info+0xb5/0x130 net/core/dev.c:1945 call_netdevice_notifiers_extack net/core/dev.c:1983 [inline] call_netdevice_notifiers net/core/dev.c:1997 [inline] netdev_wait_allrefs_any net/core/dev.c:10227 [inline] netdev_run_todo+0xbc0/0x10f0 net/core/dev.c:10341 default_device_exit_batch+0x44e/0x590 net/core/dev.c:11334 ops_exit_list+0x125/0x170 net/core/net_namespace.c:167 cleanup_net+0x4ea/0xb00 net/core/net_namespace.c:594 process_one_work+0x996/0x1610 kernel/workqueue.c:2289 worker_thread+0x665/0x1080 kernel/workqueue.c:2436 kthread+0x2e9/0x3a0 kernel/kthread.c:376 ret_from_fork+0x1f/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:302 </TASK> When unregistering a net device, unregister_netdevice_many_notify() sets the device's reg_state to NETREG_UNREGISTERING, calls notifiers with NETDEV_UNREGISTER, and adds the device to the todo list. Later on, devices in the todo list are processed by netdev_run_todo(). netdev_run_todo() waits devices' reference count become 1 while rebdoadcasting NETDEV_UNREGISTER notification. When cfusbl_device_notify() is called with NETDEV_UNREGISTER multiple times, the parent device might be freed. This could cause UAF. Processing NETDEV_UNREGISTER multiple times also causes inbalance of reference count for the module. This patch fixes the issue by accepting only first NETDEV_UNREGISTER notification.
Distribution advisory
This page covers CVE-2023-53138 as tracked by Ubuntu, for the package linux. The fix is available in version 5.15.0-79.86; earlier versions remain affected.
How this vulnerability can be exploited
This issue can be reached with local access to the system, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs low-level privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability high.
CVSS metrics in full
The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Attack vector: Local — a local account, shell or session on the host is needed.
- Attack complexity: Low — the attack works reliably, with no preparation.
- Privileges required: Low — an ordinary user account is enough.
- User interaction: None — nobody has to be tricked into anything.
- Scope: Unchanged — the damage stays inside the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.
- Integrity impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.
- Availability impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.
Affected software
UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53138 is recorded against 116 packages.
- linux (fixed in 5.15.0-79.86)
- linux-allwinner-5.19
- linux-aws (fixed in 5.15.0-1042.47)
- linux-aws-5.0
- linux-aws-5.11
- linux-aws-5.13
- linux-aws-5.15 (fixed in 5.15.0-1041.46~20.04.1)
- linux-aws-5.19
- linux-aws-5.3
- linux-aws-5.4 (fixed in 5.4.0-1107.115~18.04.1)
- linux-aws-5.8
- linux-aws-6.2
- linux-aws-6.5
- linux-aws-fips
- linux-aws-hwe
- linux-azure (fixed in 5.15.0-1045.52)
- linux-azure-4.15
- linux-azure-5.11
- linux-azure-5.13
- linux-azure-5.15 (fixed in 5.15.0-1045.52~20.04.1)
- linux-azure-5.19
- linux-azure-5.3
- linux-azure-5.4 (fixed in 5.4.0-1113.119~18.04.1)
- linux-azure-5.8
Show the remaining 92 packages
- linux-azure-6.2
- linux-azure-6.5
- linux-azure-edge
- linux-azure-fde
- linux-azure-fde-5.19
- linux-azure-fde-6.2
- linux-azure-fips
- linux-bluefield
- linux-fips
- linux-gcp (fixed in 5.15.0-1039.47)
- linux-gcp-4.15
- linux-gcp-5.11
- linux-gcp-5.13
- linux-gcp-5.15 (fixed in 5.15.0-1039.47~20.04.1)
- linux-gcp-5.19
- linux-gcp-5.3
- linux-gcp-5.4 (fixed in 5.4.0-1110.119~18.04.1)
- linux-gcp-5.8
- linux-gcp-6.2
- linux-gcp-6.5
- linux-gcp-fips
- linux-gke (fixed in 5.15.0-1039.44)
- linux-gke-4.15
- linux-gke-5.15
- linux-gke-5.4
- linux-gkeop (fixed in 5.15.0-1025.30)
- linux-gkeop-5.15
- linux-gkeop-5.4
- linux-hwe
- linux-hwe-5.11
- linux-hwe-5.13
- linux-hwe-5.15 (fixed in 5.15.0-79.86~20.04.2)
- linux-hwe-5.19
- linux-hwe-5.4 (fixed in 5.4.0-156.173~18.04.1)
- linux-hwe-5.8
- linux-hwe-6.2
- linux-hwe-6.5
- linux-hwe-edge
- linux-ibm (fixed in 5.15.0-1035.38)
- linux-ibm-5.15 (fixed in 5.15.0-1036.39~20.04.1)
- linux-ibm-5.4 (fixed in 5.4.0-1054.59~18.04.1)
- linux-intel-5.13
- linux-intel-iot-realtime (fixed in 5.15.0-1036.38)
- linux-intel-iotg (fixed in 5.15.0-1037.42)
- linux-intel-iotg-5.15 (fixed in 5.15.0-1037.42~20.04.1)
- linux-iot (fixed in 5.4.0-1019.20)
- linux-kvm (fixed in 5.15.0-1039.44)
- linux-lowlatency (fixed in 5.15.0-79.88)
- linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 (fixed in 5.15.0-79.88~20.04.1)
- linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19
- linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2
- linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5
- linux-lts-xenial
- linux-nvidia (fixed in 5.15.0-1030.30)
- linux-nvidia-6.2
- linux-nvidia-6.5
- linux-nvidia-tegra (fixed in 5.15.0-1016.16)
- linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 (fixed in 5.15.0-1016.16~20.04.1)
- linux-nvidia-tegra-igx (fixed in 5.15.0-1002.2)
- linux-oem
- linux-oem-5.10
- linux-oem-5.13
- linux-oem-5.14
- linux-oem-5.17
- linux-oem-5.6
- linux-oem-6.0
- linux-oem-6.1
- linux-oem-6.5
- linux-oracle (fixed in 5.15.0-1040.46)
- linux-oracle-5.0
- linux-oracle-5.11
- linux-oracle-5.13
- linux-oracle-5.15 (fixed in 5.15.0-1040.46~20.04.1)
- linux-oracle-5.3
- linux-oracle-5.4 (fixed in 5.4.0-1106.115~18.04.1)
- linux-oracle-5.8
- linux-oracle-6.5
- linux-raspi (fixed in 5.15.0-1035.38)
- linux-raspi-5.4 (fixed in 5.4.0-1091.102~18.04.1)
- linux-raspi-realtime
- linux-raspi2
- linux-realtime
- linux-riscv
- linux-riscv-5.11
- linux-riscv-5.15 (fixed in 5.15.0-1038.42~20.04.2)
- linux-riscv-5.19
- linux-riscv-5.8
- linux-riscv-6.5
- linux-starfive-5.19
- linux-starfive-6.2
- linux-starfive-6.5
- linux-xilinx-zynqmp (fixed in 5.15.0-1025.29)
Timeline and source
Published on 2 May 2025 and last revised on 19 August 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. Record sourced from OSV.
References
ubuntu.com (Report)
www.cve.org (Report)
git.kernel.org (Report)
git.kernel.org (Report)
git.kernel.org (Report)
git.kernel.org (Report)
git.kernel.org (Report)
git.kernel.org (Report)
git.kernel.org (Report)
git.kernel.org (Report)
git.kernel.org (Report)
Other advisories for this package
linux has other advisories on record. If you are patching this one, these are worth checking on the same host:
- DEBIAN-CVE-2022-4994 (published 30 Jul 2026)
- CVE-2026-35233 (4.4 Medium, published 1 May 2026)
- CVE-2026-21996 (3.3 Low, published 1 May 2026)
- CVE-2026-21991 (5.5 Medium, published 16 Mar 2026)
- CGA-w6xv-3fg4-grm5 (published 29 Jan 2026)
- CGA-mcwh-q4vm-9f29 (published 29 Jan 2026)
- CGA-6xjj-65cr-mc7v (published 7 Jan 2026)
- CGA-m3jq-vcq5-mqrx (published 7 Jan 2026)
CVE-2023-53138 on other distributions
Each distribution ships its own build and its own fixed version. Pick the one you run:
Details
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Affected Packages
| Software | From version | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| linux | — | 5.15.0-79.86 |
| linux-allwinner-5.19 | — | — |
| linux-aws | — | 5.15.0-1042.47 |
| linux-aws-5.0 | — | — |
| linux-aws-5.11 | — | — |
| linux-aws-5.13 | — | — |
| linux-aws-5.15 | — | 5.15.0-1041.46~20.04.1 |
| linux-aws-5.19 | — | — |
| linux-aws-5.3 | — | — |
| linux-aws-5.4 | — | 5.4.0-1107.115~18.04.1 |
| linux-aws-5.8 | — | — |
| linux-aws-6.2 | — | — |
| linux-aws-6.5 | — | — |
| linux-aws-fips | — | — |
| linux-aws-hwe | — | — |
| linux-azure | — | 5.15.0-1045.52 |
| linux-azure-4.15 | — | — |
| linux-azure-5.11 | — | — |
| linux-azure-5.13 | — | — |
| linux-azure-5.15 | — | 5.15.0-1045.52~20.04.1 |
| linux-azure-5.19 | — | — |
| linux-azure-5.3 | — | — |
| linux-azure-5.4 | — | 5.4.0-1113.119~18.04.1 |
| linux-azure-5.8 | — | — |
| linux-azure-6.2 | — | — |
| linux-azure-6.5 | — | — |
| linux-azure-edge | — | — |
| linux-azure-fde | — | — |
| linux-azure-fde-5.19 | — | — |
| linux-azure-fde-6.2 | — | — |
| linux-azure-fips | — | — |
| linux-bluefield | — | — |
| linux-fips | — | — |
| linux-gcp | — | 5.15.0-1039.47 |
| linux-gcp-4.15 | — | — |
| linux-gcp-5.11 | — | — |
| linux-gcp-5.13 | — | — |
| linux-gcp-5.15 | — | 5.15.0-1039.47~20.04.1 |
| linux-gcp-5.19 | — | — |
| linux-gcp-5.3 | — | — |
| linux-gcp-5.4 | — | 5.4.0-1110.119~18.04.1 |
| linux-gcp-5.8 | — | — |
| linux-gcp-6.2 | — | — |
| linux-gcp-6.5 | — | — |
| linux-gcp-fips | — | — |
| linux-gke | — | 5.15.0-1039.44 |
| linux-gke-4.15 | — | — |
| linux-gke-5.15 | — | — |
| linux-gke-5.4 | — | — |
| linux-gkeop | — | 5.15.0-1025.30 |
| linux-gkeop-5.15 | — | — |
| linux-gkeop-5.4 | — | — |
| linux-hwe | — | — |
| linux-hwe-5.11 | — | — |
| linux-hwe-5.13 | — | — |
| linux-hwe-5.15 | — | 5.15.0-79.86~20.04.2 |
| linux-hwe-5.19 | — | — |
| linux-hwe-5.4 | — | 5.4.0-156.173~18.04.1 |
| linux-hwe-5.8 | — | — |
| linux-hwe-6.2 | — | — |
| linux-hwe-6.5 | — | — |
| linux-hwe-edge | — | — |
| linux-ibm | — | 5.15.0-1035.38 |
| linux-ibm-5.15 | — | 5.15.0-1036.39~20.04.1 |
| linux-ibm-5.4 | — | 5.4.0-1054.59~18.04.1 |
| linux-intel-5.13 | — | — |
| linux-intel-iot-realtime | — | 5.15.0-1036.38 |
| linux-intel-iotg | — | 5.15.0-1037.42 |
| linux-intel-iotg-5.15 | — | 5.15.0-1037.42~20.04.1 |
| linux-iot | — | 5.4.0-1019.20 |
| linux-kvm | — | 5.15.0-1039.44 |
| linux-lowlatency | — | 5.15.0-79.88 |
| linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 | — | 5.15.0-79.88~20.04.1 |
| linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 | — | — |
| linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 | — | — |
| linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 | — | — |
| linux-lts-xenial | — | — |
| linux-nvidia | — | 5.15.0-1030.30 |
| linux-nvidia-6.2 | — | — |
| linux-nvidia-6.5 | — | — |
| linux-nvidia-tegra | — | 5.15.0-1016.16 |
| linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 | — | 5.15.0-1016.16~20.04.1 |
| linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | — | 5.15.0-1002.2 |
| linux-oem | — | — |
| linux-oem-5.10 | — | — |
| linux-oem-5.13 | — | — |
| linux-oem-5.14 | — | — |
| linux-oem-5.17 | — | — |
| linux-oem-5.6 | — | — |
| linux-oem-6.0 | — | — |
| linux-oem-6.1 | — | — |
| linux-oem-6.5 | — | — |
| linux-oracle | — | 5.15.0-1040.46 |
| linux-oracle-5.0 | — | — |
| linux-oracle-5.11 | — | — |
| linux-oracle-5.13 | — | — |
| linux-oracle-5.15 | — | 5.15.0-1040.46~20.04.1 |
| linux-oracle-5.3 | — | — |
| linux-oracle-5.4 | — | 5.4.0-1106.115~18.04.1 |
| linux-oracle-5.8 | — | — |
| linux-oracle-6.5 | — | — |
| linux-raspi | — | 5.15.0-1035.38 |
| linux-raspi-5.4 | — | 5.4.0-1091.102~18.04.1 |
| linux-raspi-realtime | — | — |
| linux-raspi2 | — | — |
| linux-realtime | — | — |
| linux-riscv | — | — |
| linux-riscv-5.11 | — | — |
| linux-riscv-5.15 | — | 5.15.0-1038.42~20.04.2 |
| linux-riscv-5.19 | — | — |
| linux-riscv-5.8 | — | — |
| linux-riscv-6.5 | — | — |
| linux-starfive-5.19 | — | — |
| linux-starfive-6.2 | — | — |
| linux-starfive-6.5 | — | — |
| linux-xilinx-zynqmp | — | 5.15.0-1025.29 |
References
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