Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel Bluetooth bug can leave memory referenced after it has been freed when certain SCO or ISO Bluetooth connection cleanup paths run after an ACL link disappears early. The CVSS score is high because a local, low-privileged actor could potentially affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability on exposed systems.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation in normal high-severity kernel patch cycles, faster for fleets where Bluetooth is enabled. The issue needs local access, but successful exploitation could have full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact according to CVSS.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-416 use-after-free in Bluetooth hci_conn cleanup. The fix changes SCO and ISO connection failure handling to use hci_conn_failed when the parent ACL connection is deleted too early, ensuring hci_(dis)connect_cfm-style cleanup occurs before connection deletion.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with Bluetooth enabled or accessible. The source bundle lists Linux 6.4, 6.4.16, 6.5.3, and 6.6 as affected, but version metadata includes commit hashes and is not a complete distro mapping.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction. The provided data says KEV is false and gives no cited evidence of active exploitation. Treat exploitation status as unknown beyond absence from KEV in this bundle.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a Bluetooth hci_conn lifecycle bug fixed in Linux stable commits. The bundle does not provide exploit proof, distro-specific affected packages, or operational mitigations beyond applying fixed kernels and reducing Bluetooth exposure.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced stable Linux fixes.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for backported fixes and supported package versions.
- Disable Bluetooth on systems where it is not operationally required.
- Prioritize laptops, workstations, and edge devices with enabled Bluetooth hardware.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across assets with Bluetooth capability.
- Confirm patched kernels include the referenced stable commits or vendor backports.
- Verify Bluetooth is disabled where not required.
- Track vendor advisories for exact package names and fixed versions.
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-2023-53374 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/397d58007532644b35fad746da48c41161f32a57CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e94b898463a62b72a2a8b75dea8936bf4db78e00CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3344d318337d9dca928fd448e966557ec5063f85CVE 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.