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CVE Record

CVE-2023-52452: bpf: Fix accesses to uninit stack slots

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Fix accesses to uninit stack slots Privileged programs are supposed to be able to read uninitialized stack memory (ever since 6715df8d5) but, before this patch, these accesses were permitted inconsistently. In particular, accesses were permitted above state->allocated_stack, but not below it. In other words, if the stack was already "large enough", the access was permitted, but otherwise the access was rejected instead of being allowed to "grow the stack". This undesired rejection was happening in two places: - in check_stack_slot_within_bounds() - in check_stack_range_initialized() This patch arranges for these accesses to be permitted. A bunch of tests that were relying on the old rejection had to change; all of them were changed to add also run unprivileged, in which case the old behavior persists. One tests couldn't be updated - global_func16 - because it can't run unprivileged for other reasons. This patch also fixes the tracking of the stack size for variable-offset reads. This second fix is bundled in the same commit as the first one because they're inter-related. Before this patch, writes to the stack using registers containing a variable offset (as opposed to registers with fixed, known values) were not properly contributing to the function's needed stack size. As a result, it was possible for a program to verify, but then to attempt to read out-of-bounds data at runtime because a too small stack had been allocated for it. Each function tracks the size of the stack it needs in bpf_subprog_info.stack_depth, which is maintained by update_stack_depth(). For regular memory accesses, check_mem_access() was calling update_state_depth() but it was passing in only the fixed part of the offset register, ignoring the variable offset. This was incorrect; the minimum possible value of that register should be used instead. This tracking is now fixed by centralizing the tracking of stack size in grow_stack_state(), and by lifting the calls to grow_stack_state() to check_stack_access_within_bounds() as suggested by Andrii. The code is now simpler and more convincingly tracks the correct maximum stack size. check_stack_range_initialized() can now rely on enough stack having been allocated for the access; this helps with the fix for the first issue. A few tests were changed to also check the stack depth computation. The one that fails without this patch is verifier_var_off:stack_write_priv_vs_unpriv.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel flaw is in BPF/eBPF stack verification. The cited fix corrects how the kernel accepts some stack reads and calculates needed stack depth. Business risk is most relevant on Linux systems where users, services, or containers can load BPF programs. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, or evidence of active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a kernel maintenance priority rather than an emergency based on available evidence. Prioritize internet-facing infrastructure only if it also exposes BPF loading through privileged services, container platforms, or delegated administrative workflows.

Technical view

The BPF verifier inconsistently handled privileged reads of uninitialized stack slots and undercounted stack depth for variable-offset stack writes. A program could verify while the runtime stack allocation was too small, creating an out-of-bounds read condition. The fix centralizes stack growth tracking in grow_stack_state and updates related verifier tests.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux kernels identified in the CVE source as affected, including listed 5.12, 6.6.14, 6.7.2, and 6.8 entries. Systems with BPF/eBPF loading available to privileged services, administrators, or container runtimes deserve priority review.

Exploitation context

The bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited active exploitation. No exploit details are provided. Practical exploitation context is not fully evidenced, but the issue concerns BPF program verification and therefore depends on an actor being able to load relevant BPF programs.

Researcher notes

The CVE text describes two related verifier issues: inconsistent uninitialized stack slot access handling and incorrect stack_depth tracking for variable-offset accesses. Severity data is absent, and the source bundle does not identify affected distributions, exploitability prerequisites, or a standalone mitigation beyond applying fixed kernel code.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux kernel or distribution updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check vendor advisories for exact affected package versions and backports.
  • Limit BPF program loading to trusted administrative paths where operationally possible.
  • Review container and workload policies that grant BPF-related capabilities.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions against vendor advisories and the CVE record.
  • Confirm installed kernels include one of the referenced stable fixes or a vendor backport.
  • Review whether untrusted users or workloads can load BPF programs.
  • Track remediation evidence through package changelogs or kernel build metadata.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2023-52452 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

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.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux01f810ace9ed37255f27608a0864abebccf0aab3, 01f810ace9ed37255f27608a0864abebccf0aab3, 01f810ace9ed37255f27608a0864abebccf0aab3, f3c4b01689d392373301e6e60d1b02c5b4020afc, d1b725ea5d104caea250427899f4e2e3ab15b4fcunaffected
LinuxLinux5.12, 0, 6.6.14, 6.7.2, 6.8affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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