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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53426: xsk: Fix xsk_diag use-after-free error during socket cleanup

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xsk: Fix xsk_diag use-after-free error during socket cleanup Fix a use-after-free error that is possible if the xsk_diag interface is used after the socket has been unbound from the device. This can happen either due to the socket being closed or the device disappearing. In the early days of AF_XDP, the way we tested that a socket was not bound to a device was to simply check if the netdevice pointer in the xsk socket structure was NULL. Later, a better system was introduced by having an explicit state variable in the xsk socket struct. For example, the state of a socket that is on the way to being closed and has been unbound from the device is XSK_UNBOUND. The commit in the Fixes tag below deleted the old way of signalling that a socket is unbound, setting dev to NULL. This in the belief that all code using the old way had been exterminated. That was unfortunately not true as the xsk diagnostics code was still using the old way and thus does not work as intended when a socket is going down. Fix this by introducing a test against the state variable. If the socket is in the state XSK_UNBOUND, simply abort the diagnostic's netlink operation.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-53426 is a Linux kernel use-after-free in AF_XDP socket diagnostics during socket cleanup. A local user could potentially cause serious confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on affected kernels. The issue is not listed as known exploited in the provided sources.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority kernel maintenance item, especially for multi-user or workload-hosting systems. There is no cited active exploitation, so emergency response depends on local exposure, but patch planning should not wait for proof-of-concept availability.

Technical view

The xsk_diag netlink diagnostic path still relied on an obsolete dev pointer check to detect unbound AF_XDP sockets. After cleanup unbound sockets used XSK_UNBOUND state instead, leaving a use-after-free window when diagnostics run after unbind, close, or device disappearance.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to affected Linux kernel builds listed by the CVE. The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction. Risk is most relevant on systems where untrusted local users or workloads can reach AF_XDP/xsk diagnostic functionality.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show active exploitation, public weaponization, or CISA KEV listing. The impact rating is high because successful local exploitation could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but evidence is limited to the kernel fix description and CVE metadata.

Researcher notes

Root cause is stale lifecycle validation in xsk_diag after AF_XDP socket unbind signaling moved from dev == NULL to an explicit state variable. The fix aborts the diagnostic netlink operation when the socket state is XSK_UNBOUND.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade affected Linux kernels to vendor or stable releases containing the referenced fixes.
  • Check distribution advisories for backported fixes before relying on upstream version numbers.
  • Prioritize shared servers, container hosts, and systems with untrusted local users.
  • If immediate patching is delayed, follow vendor guidance for exposure reduction.
  • Track the CVE record for updated affected-version and fix information.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected fleets.
  • Compare package changelogs against CVE-2023-53426 and referenced stable commits.
  • Confirm patched kernels are booted, not only installed.
  • Identify systems allowing untrusted local shell, service, or workload execution.
  • Document any AF_XDP/xsk_diag exposure assumptions for risk acceptance.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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

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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2023-53426 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
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

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
5Source links

SSVC decision data

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

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
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2023-53426Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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
LinuxLinuxad7219cd8751bd258b9d1e69ae0654ec00f71875, 18b1ab7aa76bde181bdb1ab19a87fa9523c32f21, 18b1ab7aa76bde181bdb1ab19a87fa9523c32f21, 18b1ab7aa76bde181bdb1ab19a87fa9523c32f21, d1579253ffce39986e7a6ab757ac93b2680a665f, 8a2dea162b92c322f3e42eae0c4a74b8d20aa7a9, 5.15.33, 5.16.19, 5.17.2unaffected
LinuxLinux5.18, 0, 5.15.132, 6.1.54, 6.5.4, 6.6affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-416 · source CWE mapping

Use After Free

Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.