Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel availability issue in the NTFS3 filesystem driver. A local user who can cause the system to process a malformed NTFS filesystem condition may trigger a kernel null pointer dereference and crash the system. The available sources do not show data theft, privilege escalation, or active exploitation.
Executive priority
Handle as a moderate-priority Linux kernel maintenance item. Patch affected systems through normal kernel update channels, with higher priority for systems that mount NTFS media or inspect disk images. The main business risk is service disruption, not confirmed compromise.
Technical view
In fs/ntfs3 ntfs_lookup(), a non-base NTFS MFT record can leave inode->i_op as NULL. The code then calls d_splice_alias(), which can reach d_flags_for_inode() and dereference inode->i_op->get_link. The kernel fix adds an inode->i_op check before d_splice_alias().
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems using affected kernels with NTFS3 support and workflows that mount or inspect NTFS filesystems. Systems that never load or use NTFS3 are less likely exposed. The source bundle lists affected Linux kernel versions and stable kernel fixes but does not identify specific distributions.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privilege, no user interaction, with high availability impact only. KEV is false, and the provided sources do not report active exploitation. Evidence points to denial of service through a kernel crash, originally found by syzbot.
Researcher notes
The record describes CWE-476 and a KASAN null pointer dereference in the NTFS3 lookup path. Affected version data is kernel-centric and distribution mapping is not provided. Do not assume exploit availability or distribution package status without vendor advisories.
Mitigation direction
- Apply vendor or distribution kernel updates that include the NTFS3 fix.
- Confirm whether your kernel includes the referenced stable commits or equivalent backport.
- Reduce use of NTFS3 on systems that do not need NTFS support.
- Avoid processing untrusted NTFS media or images until patched.
- Track Linux kernel and distribution advisories for CVE-2023-53294.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux systems and identify kernels with NTFS3 support enabled.
- Check kernel package changelogs for CVE-2023-53294 or referenced stable commits.
- Review whether servers or workstations mount NTFS removable media or disk images.
- Look for recent kernel crashes or logs mentioning ntfs3 errors.
- Prioritize validation on multi-user systems and systems handling user-supplied storage media.
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-476: 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-2023-53294 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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/f8d9e062a695a3665c4635c4f216a75912687598CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d69d5e2a81df94534bdb468bcdd26060fcb7191aCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2ba22cbc6a1cf4b58195adbee0b80262e53992d3CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e78240bc4b94fc42854d65e657bb998100cc8e1bCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/254e69f284d7270e0abdc023ee53b71401c3ba0cCVE 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.
NULL Pointer Dereference
NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.