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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53584: ubifs: ubifs_releasepage: Remove ubifs_assert(0) to valid this process

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ubifs: ubifs_releasepage: Remove ubifs_assert(0) to valid this process There are two states for ubifs writing pages: 1. Dirty, Private 2. Not Dirty, Not Private The normal process cannot go to ubifs_releasepage() which means there exists pages being private but not dirty. Reproducer[1] shows that it could occur (which maybe related to [2]) with following process: PA PB PC lock(page)[PA] ubifs_write_end attach_page_private // set Private __set_page_dirty_nobuffers // set Dirty unlock(page) write_cache_pages[PA] lock(page) clear_page_dirty_for_io(page) // clear Dirty ubifs_writepage do_truncation[PB] truncate_setsize i_size_write(inode, newsize) // newsize = 0 i_size = i_size_read(inode) // i_size = 0 end_index = i_size >> PAGE_SHIFT if (page->index > end_index) goto out // jump out: unlock(page) // Private, Not Dirty generic_fadvise[PC] lock(page) invalidate_inode_page try_to_release_page ubifs_releasepage ubifs_assert(c, 0) // bad assertion! unlock(page) truncate_pagecache[PB] Then we may get following assertion failed: UBIFS error (ubi0:0 pid 1683): ubifs_assert_failed [ubifs]: UBIFS assert failed: 0, in fs/ubifs/file.c:1513 UBIFS warning (ubi0:0 pid 1683): ubifs_ro_mode [ubifs]: switched to read-only mode, error -22 CPU: 2 PID: 1683 Comm: aa Not tainted 5.16.0-rc5-00184-g0bca5994cacc-dirty #308 Call Trace: dump_stack+0x13/0x1b ubifs_ro_mode+0x54/0x60 [ubifs] ubifs_assert_failed+0x4b/0x80 [ubifs] ubifs_releasepage+0x67/0x1d0 [ubifs] try_to_release_page+0x57/0xe0 invalidate_inode_page+0xfb/0x130 __invalidate_mapping_pages+0xb9/0x280 invalidate_mapping_pagevec+0x12/0x20 generic_fadvise+0x303/0x3c0 ksys_fadvise64_64+0x4c/0xb0 [1] https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=215373 [2] https://linux-mtd.infradead.narkive.com/NQoBeT1u/patch-rfc-ubifs-fix-assert-failed-in-ubifs-set-page-dirty

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-53584 is a Linux kernel UBIFS filesystem bug that can trigger a failed assertion and force UBIFS into read-only mode. Business impact is mainly availability: affected embedded or flash-storage Linux systems using UBIFS may lose write capability until remediated or recovered.

Executive priority

Prioritize where UBIFS supports production writes, device configuration, telemetry, or update storage. For general servers not using UBIFS, urgency is lower. The main risk is operational disruption rather than confirmed remote compromise.

Technical view

The flaw is in ubifs_releasepage(). A page state race can leave a page private but not dirty, reaching an assertion path that should not abort normal handling. The recorded failure switches UBIFS to read-only mode with error -22. Kernel stable commits remove the bad assertion path.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems using UBIFS, commonly flash-backed or embedded deployments. The source lists Linux kernel affected versions including 2.6.27, 6.1.18, 6.2.5, and 6.3, but version range details are incomplete.

Exploitation context

No CISA KEV listing or cited source indicates active exploitation. The described trigger involves filesystem writeback, truncation, and advisory/invalidation behavior. Treat it as a local availability risk unless vendor guidance states broader exposure.

Researcher notes

The CVE record lacks CVSS and precise version range semantics. The vulnerability was resolved through Linux stable commits tied to UBIFS releasepage behavior. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the documented assertion-driven read-only transition without further vendor analysis.

Mitigation direction

  • Check your Linux vendor or distribution advisory for CVE-2023-53584 fixes.
  • Update to a kernel containing the referenced stable UBIFS commits or vendor backports.
  • Prioritize devices using UBIFS for writable operational data.
  • Plan maintenance windows for embedded systems requiring kernel replacement.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux systems and identify which mount UBIFS filesystems.
  • Check running kernel versions against vendor advisories for CVE-2023-53584.
  • Confirm whether the referenced stable commits are present or backported.
  • Review logs for UBIFS assertion failures or read-only mode transitions.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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-2023-53584 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

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
LinuxLinux1e51764a3c2ac05a23a22b2a95ddee4d9bffb16d, 1e51764a3c2ac05a23a22b2a95ddee4d9bffb16d, 1e51764a3c2ac05a23a22b2a95ddee4d9bffb16dunaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.27, 0, 6.1.18, 6.2.5, 6.3affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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