Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-52974 is a Linux kernel memory safety flaw in the iSCSI TCP login path. A local user could potentially trigger a use-after-free condition, with high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. It is not listed in CISA KEV, and the provided sources do not show active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue, especially for storage-connected Linux servers. It requires local access, which reduces internet-scale urgency, but successful exploitation could have full system impact. Patch through normal emergency or accelerated kernel update processes based on local-user exposure.
Technical view
The flaw is CWE-416 in scsi/iscsi_tcp. If iscsi_tcp_r2tpool_alloc() fails during iscsi_sw_tcp_session_create(), userspace may still access the SCSI host ipaddress attribute while iscsi_session_teardown() frees the session. The fix delays setting tcp_sw_host->session until session creation cannot fail.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems with the kernel iSCSI TCP functionality present or used. The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction. Exact distribution package exposure must be confirmed against vendor kernels and backports.
Exploitation context
The CVE record rates this 7.8 CVSS v3.1 and local-only. The described condition depends on iSCSI TCP session creation failure and concurrent userspace access to the host ipaddress attribute. No provided source or KEV status supports active exploitation.
Researcher notes
The source bundle provides upstream stable commit references but not distribution-specific fixed package versions. Version data appears kernel-line oriented and should be validated against vendor backports. Avoid assuming exploit availability; none is evidenced here.
Mitigation direction
- Update Linux kernels to versions containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Check your Linux distribution security advisories for backported kernel fixes.
- Prioritize systems using iSCSI TCP or allowing local user access.
- If updates are delayed, review vendor guidance for supported workarounds.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers and appliances.
- Identify systems using or loading the iscsi_tcp kernel component.
- Compare installed kernels against vendor advisories and stable fix commits.
- Confirm remediation through package changelogs or vendor CVE status pages.
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 lookupCVE-2023-52974 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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe 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:H1.85.9LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9CISA-ADPVulnerability 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
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
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/496af9d3682ed4c28fb734342a09e6cc0c056ea4CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6abd4698f4c8a78e7bbfc421205c060c199554a0CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d4d765f4761f9e3a2d62992f825aeee593bcb6b9CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9758ffe1c07b86aefd7ca8e40d9a461293427ca0CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0aaabdb900c7415caa2006ef580322f7eac5f6b6CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/61e43ebfd243bcbad11be26bd921723027b77441CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f484a794e4ee2a9ce61f52a78e810ac45f3fe3b3CVE reference, Linux
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.