Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel memory-safety flaw in the nouveau graphics driver used for NVIDIA GPUs. A local user with low privileges could potentially cause serious confidentiality, integrity, or availability impact. The supplied sources do not show active exploitation or a named workaround beyond the kernel fix references.
Executive priority
Treat as high-priority patching for Linux endpoints or shared systems using nouveau. It is not presented as internet-exploitable, but local privilege and memory-corruption impact make delay risky on multi-user or developer workstations.
Technical view
CVE-2023-53263 is a CWE-416 use-after-free in drm/nouveau display connector error handling. After drm_connector_init, the connector cannot simply be freed without first cleaning up DRM-side state. The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privilege, no user interaction, with high CIA impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using affected kernel versions and the nouveau driver, especially workstations, VDI, or GPU-enabled Linux hosts with NVIDIA hardware. The affected-version data in the bundle is sparse and should be validated against distribution backports.
Exploitation context
The source bundle lists KEV as false and provides no evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates local exploitation requiring low privileges, not a remote network attack. No exploit method is described in the supplied sources.
Researcher notes
The key issue is cleanup ordering after drm_connector_init in nouveau_connector_create error handling. The record ties the flaw to memory corruption after commit 2b5d1c29f6c4. Supplied affected-version entries are limited, so rely on vendor kernel mapping for exact exposure.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Linux kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Prioritize GPU-enabled Linux desktops, VDI, and multi-user hosts.
- Check distribution advisories for backported fixed packages.
- If no update exists, follow vendor guidance for temporary mitigations.
- Limit unnecessary local shell access on affected systems.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernels and systems using the nouveau driver.
- Compare kernel package changelogs against the referenced stable commits.
- Confirm whether distribution kernels have backported the fix.
- Review NVIDIA GPU Linux hosts before lower-risk server-only fleets.
- Recheck KEV or vendor advisories before claiming active exploitation.
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-2023-53263 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/3f27451c9f29d5ed00232968680c7838a44dcac7CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/872feeecd08c81d212a52211d212897b8a857544CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1b254b791d7b7dea6e8adc887fbbd51746d8bb27CVE 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.