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CVE Record

CVE-2023-52935: mm/khugepaged: fix ->anon_vma race

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/khugepaged: fix ->anon_vma race If an ->anon_vma is attached to the VMA, collapse_and_free_pmd() requires it to be locked. Page table traversal is allowed under any one of the mmap lock, the anon_vma lock (if the VMA is associated with an anon_vma), and the mapping lock (if the VMA is associated with a mapping); and so to be able to remove page tables, we must hold all three of them. retract_page_tables() bails out if an ->anon_vma is attached, but does this check before holding the mmap lock (as the comment above the check explains). If we racily merged an existing ->anon_vma (shared with a child process) from a neighboring VMA, subsequent rmap traversals on pages belonging to the child will be able to see the page tables that we are concurrently removing while assuming that nothing else can access them. Repeat the ->anon_vma check once we hold the mmap lock to ensure that there really is no concurrent page table access. Hitting this bug causes a lockdep warning in collapse_and_free_pmd(), in the line "lockdep_assert_held_write(&vma->anon_vma->root->rwsem)". It can also lead to use-after-free access.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel memory-management flaw that can become use-after-free access. It requires local code execution with low privileges, so the main business risk is privilege escalation or system compromise on affected Linux hosts, especially shared servers and multi-user environments.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority for Linux fleets that allow local users, containers, or tenant workloads. It is not described as remotely exploitable, but successful local exploitation could threaten confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical view

The flaw is in khugepaged page-table collapse handling. A race around VMA anon_vma checks can let page tables be removed while reverse-map traversal may still access them, causing lockdep warnings and possible use-after-free. CVSS is 7.8, local, low complexity, low privilege, no user interaction.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions or downstream packages carrying the vulnerable code. The bundle lists Linux kernels and stable fix references, but distro-specific package mapping must be verified against vendor advisories.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires local privileges and no user interaction, so risk is highest where untrusted users or workloads can run code on the host.

Researcher notes

Key evidence is the kernel fix description: missing locking around anon_vma state during page-table removal can create a race and use-after-free. The bundle provides stable commit references but not a public proof of concept or confirmed exploitation.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply kernel updates from the Linux stable tree or your distribution vendor.
  • Prioritize shared Linux servers, container hosts, CI runners, and multi-user systems.
  • Confirm updated kernels include the referenced stable fix commits.
  • Reboot or livepatch hosts as required for kernel fixes to take effect.
  • If patching is delayed, reduce untrusted local workload access where feasible.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, workstations, and cloud images.
  • Map installed distro packages to vendor advisories for CVE-2023-52935.
  • Check whether deployed kernels include one of the referenced stable commits.
  • Validate that patched systems boot into the intended updated kernel.
  • Review vulnerability scanner results for stale kernel detections after reboot.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
8

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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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

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.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2023-52935 mapping review

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Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
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

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
7Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2023-52935Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxf3f0e1d2150b2b99da2cbdfaad000089efe9bf30, f3f0e1d2150b2b99da2cbdfaad000089efe9bf30, f3f0e1d2150b2b99da2cbdfaad000089efe9bf30, f3f0e1d2150b2b99da2cbdfaad000089efe9bf30, f3f0e1d2150b2b99da2cbdfaad000089efe9bf30unaffected
LinuxLinux4.8, 0, 5.4.299, 5.10.243, 5.15.192, 6.1.11, 6.2affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-416 · source CWE mapping

Use After Free

Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.