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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53337: nilfs2: do not write dirty data after degenerating to read-only

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nilfs2: do not write dirty data after degenerating to read-only According to syzbot's report, mark_buffer_dirty() called from nilfs_segctor_do_construct() outputs a warning with some patterns after nilfs2 detects metadata corruption and degrades to read-only mode. After such read-only degeneration, page cache data may be cleared through nilfs_clear_dirty_page() which may also clear the uptodate flag for their buffer heads. However, even after the degeneration, log writes are still performed by unmount processing etc., which causes mark_buffer_dirty() to be called for buffer heads without the "uptodate" flag and causes the warning. Since any writes should not be done to a read-only file system in the first place, this fixes the warning in mark_buffer_dirty() by letting nilfs_segctor_do_construct() abort early if in read-only mode. This also changes the retry check of nilfs_segctor_write_out() to avoid unnecessary log write retries if it detects -EROFS that nilfs_segctor_do_construct() returned.

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel NILFS2 filesystem flaw. After NILFS2 detects metadata corruption and switches itself read-only, later cleanup or unmount activity may still try log writes, triggering a kernel warning path. The stated security impact is availability only, with local low-privilege access required.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted availability risk, not a broad remote compromise issue. Patch through normal kernel maintenance, with faster handling for systems that use NILFS2 or have strict uptime requirements.

Technical view

The issue is in nilfs_segctor_do_construct() and related log-write retry behavior. When NILFS2 degenerates to read-only after metadata corruption, dirty page or buffer state can lead mark_buffer_dirty() to warn on non-uptodate buffer heads. The fix aborts construction early on read-only filesystems and avoids retries on -EROFS.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems where NILFS2 is enabled and mounted. The CVE bundle lists Linux kernel versions as affected, but does not identify specific distributions, appliances, or cloud images.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. CVSS indicates local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high availability impact.

Researcher notes

Evidence points to a defensive kernel correctness fix following syzbot reporting. The provided sources do not show confidentiality or integrity impact, exploit availability, or distribution-specific affected package ranges.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor Linux kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize hosts that enable or mount NILFS2 filesystems.
  • Check vendor guidance before applying temporary filesystem restrictions.
  • Reboot or live-patch according to your kernel vendor process.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected fleets.
  • Identify systems with NILFS2 support enabled or mounted.
  • Compare installed kernels with vendor advisories and referenced stable commits.
  • Review kernel logs for NILFS2 corruption or read-only degeneration warnings.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
11

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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.

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CVE-2023-53337 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
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

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
10Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

5.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2023-53337Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux8c26c4e2694a163d525976e804d81cd955bbb40c, 8c26c4e2694a163d525976e804d81cd955bbb40c, 8c26c4e2694a163d525976e804d81cd955bbb40c, 8c26c4e2694a163d525976e804d81cd955bbb40c, 8c26c4e2694a163d525976e804d81cd955bbb40c, 8c26c4e2694a163d525976e804d81cd955bbb40c, 8c26c4e2694a163d525976e804d81cd955bbb40c, 8c26c4e2694a163d525976e804d81cd955bbb40c, 8c26c4e2694a163d525976e804d81cd955bbb40cunaffected
LinuxLinux3.10, 0, 4.14.315, 4.19.283, 5.4.243, 5.10.180, 5.15.111, 6.1.28, 6.2.15, 6.3.2, 6.4affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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