Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-52975 is a Linux kernel memory safety bug in the iSCSI TCP storage driver. A local user with some privileges could trigger a use-after-free during iSCSI session logout, potentially impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. It matters most on Linux systems using iSCSI over TCP.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for Linux infrastructure that uses iSCSI storage, especially virtualization and storage-adjacent hosts. It is not shown as exploited in the wild, but the impact rating is high and kernel memory bugs can be serious. Patch through normal emergency or accelerated kernel maintenance depending on iSCSI dependency.
Technical view
The flaw is a CWE-416 use-after-free in iscsi_tcp/scsi_transport_iscsi when shost ipaddress sysfs access races with iSCSI session teardown. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction. Kernel stable commits are referenced as fixes.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Linux hosts with affected kernel builds and active or available iSCSI TCP functionality. Storage servers, virtualization hosts, and systems using iSCSI initiators deserve priority review. Systems without iSCSI TCP use are less likely exposed, but kernel configuration and loaded modules should be verified.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show active exploitation, and CISA KEV status is false. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges and a timing/race condition around iSCSI logout and host IP address attribute access. No remote network-only exploitation is supported by the provided evidence.
Researcher notes
The source bundle identifies the bug as fixed in the Linux kernel and provides four stable commit references. The affected-version data is incomplete and commit-oriented, so distribution-specific package status is essential. Avoid assuming exposure solely from upstream version numbers because enterprise kernels often backport fixes.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for backported fixes.
- Disable or unload iSCSI TCP functionality if it is not required.
- Limit local shell access on systems using iSCSI storage.
- Prioritize storage and virtualization hosts for patch scheduling.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across iSCSI-capable hosts.
- Check whether iscsi_tcp and scsi_transport_iscsi modules are present or loaded.
- Identify systems with configured iSCSI sessions or initiators.
- Confirm installed kernels include vendor backports or referenced stable commits.
- Review kernel logs for KASAN or use-after-free reports if testing builds are used.
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-2023-52975 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/0af745fddefbd56198f4f35eb309215ee5f9e21eCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/17b738590b97fb3fc287289971d1519ff9b875a1CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8859687f5b242c0b057461df0a9ff51d5500783bCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f1d64b13097e85abda0f91b5638000afc5f9a06CVE 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.