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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53485: fs: jfs: Fix UBSAN: array-index-out-of-bounds in dbAllocDmapLev

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs: jfs: Fix UBSAN: array-index-out-of-bounds in dbAllocDmapLev Syzkaller reported the following issue: UBSAN: array-index-out-of-bounds in fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c:1965:6 index -84 is out of range for type 's8[341]' (aka 'signed char[341]') CPU: 1 PID: 4995 Comm: syz-executor146 Not tainted 6.4.0-rc6-syzkaller-00037-gb6dad5178cea #0 Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 05/27/2023 Call Trace: <TASK> __dump_stack lib/dump_stack.c:88 [inline] dump_stack_lvl+0x1e7/0x2d0 lib/dump_stack.c:106 ubsan_epilogue lib/ubsan.c:217 [inline] __ubsan_handle_out_of_bounds+0x11c/0x150 lib/ubsan.c:348 dbAllocDmapLev+0x3e5/0x430 fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c:1965 dbAllocCtl+0x113/0x920 fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c:1809 dbAllocAG+0x28f/0x10b0 fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c:1350 dbAlloc+0x658/0xca0 fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c:874 dtSplitUp fs/jfs/jfs_dtree.c:974 [inline] dtInsert+0xda7/0x6b00 fs/jfs/jfs_dtree.c:863 jfs_create+0x7b6/0xbb0 fs/jfs/namei.c:137 lookup_open fs/namei.c:3492 [inline] open_last_lookups fs/namei.c:3560 [inline] path_openat+0x13df/0x3170 fs/namei.c:3788 do_filp_open+0x234/0x490 fs/namei.c:3818 do_sys_openat2+0x13f/0x500 fs/open.c:1356 do_sys_open fs/open.c:1372 [inline] __do_sys_openat fs/open.c:1388 [inline] __se_sys_openat fs/open.c:1383 [inline] __x64_sys_openat+0x247/0x290 fs/open.c:1383 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:50 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x41/0xc0 arch/x86/entry/common.c:80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd RIP: 0033:0x7f1f4e33f7e9 Code: 28 00 00 00 75 05 48 83 c4 28 c3 e8 51 14 00 00 90 48 89 f8 48 89 f7 48 89 d6 48 89 ca 4d 89 c2 4d 89 c8 4c 8b 4c 24 08 0f 05 <48> 3d 01 f0 ff ff 73 01 c3 48 c7 c1 c0 ff ff ff f7 d8 64 89 01 48 RSP: 002b:00007ffc21129578 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000101 RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 0000000000000000 RCX: 00007f1f4e33f7e9 RDX: 000000000000275a RSI: 0000000020000040 RDI: 00000000ffffff9c RBP: 00007f1f4e2ff080 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 0000000000000000 R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000000000000246 R12: 00007f1f4e2ff110 R13: 0000000000000000 R14: 0000000000000000 R15: 0000000000000000 </TASK> The bug occurs when the dbAllocDmapLev()function attempts to access dp->tree.stree[leafidx + LEAFIND] while the leafidx value is negative. To rectify this, the patch introduces a safeguard within the dbAllocDmapLev() function. A check has been added to verify if leafidx is negative. If it is, the function immediately returns an I/O error, preventing any further execution that could potentially cause harm. Tested via syzbot.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux JFS filesystem bug can make the kernel read or write outside an expected array when an internal index becomes negative. The supplied CVSS assessment is 7.8 (high), with potential confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Risk is primarily relevant to systems actively using JFS; the source bundle does not establish real-world exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue on systems using JFS, especially shared hosts permitting local untrusted users. Systems without JFS use are less likely to reach the vulnerable path. Request rapid inventory and vendor package verification; emergency action across every Linux system is not supported by the supplied evidence.

Technical view

In dbAllocDmapLev(), a negative leafidx could produce an out-of-bounds access to dp->tree.stree[leafidx + LEAFIND]. Syzkaller reproduced the condition and UBSAN detected index -84 against a 341-element signed-character array. The upstream fix checks for a negative index and returns an I/O error before the access.

Likely exposure

Exposure is concentrated on Linux hosts running affected kernel branches where JFS is enabled and exercised. The CVSS vector requires local access with low privileges and no user interaction. The supplied version data does not clearly map fixes to distribution-specific kernel packages, so package-level status requires vendor confirmation.

Exploitation context

The source bundle identifies automated Syzkaller testing, not malicious exploitation. The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied data, and no cited source reports public exploitation. Although the CVSS assessment indicates potentially severe impact, the evidence provided does not demonstrate a practical privilege escalation or other weaponized outcome.

Researcher notes

The observed fault is a negative-index array access in the JFS block allocator during file creation. The guard converts that state into an I/O error. Multiple stable-tree commits are referenced, suggesting branch-specific backports. Exact affected and fixed distribution releases, exploitability beyond the sanitizer finding, and root-cause conditions producing leafidx remain incomplete in the supplied evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify systems running Linux kernels with JFS enabled or mounted.
  • Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable upstream fix or backport.
  • Consult distribution security guidance to confirm fixed package versions and reboot requirements.
  • Prioritize multi-user or untrusted-workload hosts where local low-privileged access is available.

Validation and detection

  • Record the running kernel and distribution package versions on potentially exposed hosts.
  • Confirm whether JFS support is enabled and whether any JFS filesystems are mounted or used.
  • Verify the installed kernel includes the applicable fix or vendor backport.
  • Review kernel logs for UBSAN out-of-bounds reports referencing dbAllocDmapLev or jfs_dmap.c.
  • After updating, confirm the fixed kernel is running and perform authorized filesystem regression testing.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

Public sources used

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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CVE-2023-53485 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
0ADP providers
9Source links

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:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2023-53485Attack 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.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2unaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.12, 0, 4.14.324, 4.19.293, 5.4.255, 5.10.192, 5.15.123, 6.1.42, 6.4.7, 6.5affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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