Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-53253 is a Linux kernel use-after-free in the NVIDIA Shield HID driver. A local low-privileged user could potentially trigger kernel memory misuse, with CVSS 7.8 high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Sources do not show active exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation in shared Linux environments, developer workstations, and systems with untrusted local users. Internet-facing urgency is lower because the vector is local, but kernel memory corruption with high CVSS impact should not remain unpatched.
Technical view
The flaw is in HID nvidia-shield handling of input_dev name lifetime. input_unregister_device triggers devres cleanup for input_dev resources, freeing the name before a later unregister uevent uses it. The kernel fix changes devm allocation ownership to reference hid_device, avoiding the use-after-free.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems running affected kernel versions or commits with the nvidia-shield HID driver present. The bundle identifies Linux 6.5 through 6.5.3 and 6.6-era affected data, but does not name distributions, appliances, or default configurations.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction. KEV is false, and the provided sources do not cite public exploitation. Treat this as a local privilege and kernel stability risk, not a confirmed internet-exploited issue.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a use-after-free fixed in Linux stable commits. The source bundle does not provide proof-of-concept details, exploit telemetry, affected distro packages, or complete backport mapping. Validation should focus on kernel provenance, driver availability, and vendor advisory correlation.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Check distribution advisories for the exact fixed package version.
- Prioritize systems allowing untrusted local users or workloads.
- Restrict local shell access where kernel updates are delayed.
- Monitor vendor kernel channels for corrected backports.
Validation and detection
- Inventory kernel versions across Linux hosts.
- Confirm whether affected kernels include the nvidia-shield HID driver.
- Map installed kernels against vendor fixed-package advisories.
- Review patch status for the two referenced stable commits.
- Check vulnerability scanners for CVE-2023-53253 coverage and false positives.
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
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-53253 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
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:H1.85.9CISA-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
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/b85d3807e5ec368bfd5b20245347d7c1434aff76CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/197d3143520fec9fde89aebabc9f0d7464f08e50CVE 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.