Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-3610 is a Linux kernel memory-safety bug in netfilter nf_tables. A local attacker with CAP_NET_ADMIN could abuse it to gain higher privileges. It is high severity because successful exploitation can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but the provided sources do not show active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a priority patching item for Linux systems that support shared access, containerized workloads, or privileged local operations. Business urgency is lower than an internet-facing remote exploit, but compromise impact is high if an attacker already has the needed local capability.
Technical view
The flaw is a CWE-416 use-after-free in nf_tables bound-chain error handling. The vulnerable path is the abort path for NFT_MSG_NEWRULE, and triggering it requires CAP_NET_ADMIN. The source bundle recommends upgrading past Linux commit 4bedf9eee016286c835e3d8fa981ddece5338795.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant on Linux systems running affected kernels with netfilter nf_tables available, especially where local users or workloads can obtain CAP_NET_ADMIN. The bundle names Linux Kernel 5.9 but does not provide a complete affected-version matrix.
Exploitation context
This is local privilege escalation, not a remote unauthenticated issue. The attacker needs local execution plus CAP_NET_ADMIN. The source bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation, so active exploitation should not be claimed.
Researcher notes
Key evidence is the upstream kernel fix and downstream Debian and NetApp advisories. The provided data does not establish active exploitation or a full affected-version range. Focus validation on kernel fix presence, vendor backports, and CAP_NET_ADMIN exposure.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade to a kernel containing commit 4bedf9eee016286c835e3d8fa981ddece5338795 or later.
- Apply Debian, NetApp, or other vendor-provided kernel updates where applicable.
- Review and reduce CAP_NET_ADMIN assignment to untrusted users or workloads.
- Check vendor guidance if your distribution backports kernel security fixes.
Validation and detection
- Confirm the running kernel includes the upstream fix or a vendor backport.
- Review installed kernel package advisories for CVE-2023-3610 coverage.
- Inventory users, services, and workloads granted CAP_NET_ADMIN.
- Verify nf_tables/netfilter usage on systems considered in scope.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupPrivilege behavior lookup
The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-3610 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit?id=4bedf9eee016286c835e3d8fa981ddece5338795CVE reference · patch
- https://kernel.dance/4bedf9eee016286c835e3d8fa981ddece5338795CVE reference
- https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5461CVE reference
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/08/msg00001.htmlCVE reference
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230818-0005/CVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.