Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-53396 is a Linux kernel UBIFS memory leak during file rename operations inside encrypted directories. A local, low-privileged user is required. The main business risk is availability degradation on affected Linux systems, not data theft or data modification.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate operational risk. It is not currently evidenced as exploited in the wild, but affected systems with local user access could suffer availability impact. Prioritize embedded or specialized Linux environments using UBIFS encryption.
Technical view
The UBIFS do_rename path calls fscrypt_setup_filename for encrypted directories, allocating filename memory that is not freed. The kernel fix removes the unnecessary call. The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privilege, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using UBIFS with encrypted directories. Kernel version and distribution backport status must be checked because the source bundle lists commit and version data rather than a simple product advisory.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show active exploitation, and KEV status is false. Evidence supports a local denial-of-service style availability risk through memory leakage, but it does not support remote exploitation, confidentiality impact, or integrity impact.
Researcher notes
The key condition is UBIFS rename handling in encrypted directories. The source states fscrypt_setup_filename allocates memory that is not freed and the fix removes the unnecessary call. Affected version interpretation should rely on upstream commits and distributor backports.
Mitigation direction
- Update affected Linux kernels using distribution or kernel stable guidance.
- Prioritize systems using UBIFS with encrypted directories.
- Apply vendor-provided backports when full kernel upgrade is not practical.
- Monitor affected hosts for abnormal kernel memory growth.
- Track the referenced stable kernel commits in change management.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux systems using UBIFS and encrypted directories.
- Compare running kernels against vendor advisories and referenced stable commits.
- Confirm whether distribution kernels include the UBIFS do_rename fix.
- Review system monitoring for unexplained memory pressure on exposed hosts.
- Validate fixes first on representative non-production systems.
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
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ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CWE-401: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-53396 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/43b2f7d690697182beed6f71aa57b7249d3cfc9cCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9f565752b328fe53c9e42b7d4e4d89a1da63d738CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7e264f67b7d6580eff5c2696961039fd05c69258CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/517ddc0259d7a7231486bdafde8035c478bc4088CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3a36d20e012903f45714df2731261fdefac900cbCVE 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.
Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.