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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53614: mm/ksm: fix race with VMA iteration and mm_struct teardown

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/ksm: fix race with VMA iteration and mm_struct teardown exit_mmap() will tear down the VMAs and maple tree with the mmap_lock held in write mode. Ensure that the maple tree is still valid by checking ksm_test_exit() after taking the mmap_lock in read mode, but before the for_each_vma() iterator dereferences a destroyed maple tree. Since the maple tree is destroyed, the flags telling lockdep to check an external lock has been cleared. Skip the for_each_vma() iterator to avoid dereferencing a maple tree without the external lock flag, which would create a lockdep warning.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel memory-management bug in Kernel Samepage Merging. During process address-space teardown, kernel code could iterate VMAs after the underlying maple tree was destroyed. The public record does not state real-world impact, CVSS, or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a kernel hygiene update with unknown severity. Prioritize normal patch management for affected Linux fleets, especially shared or multi-tenant systems, but the supplied evidence does not justify emergency response based on exploitation.

Technical view

The fix rechecks ksm_test_exit() after acquiring mmap_lock in read mode and before for_each_vma() dereferences the maple tree. The described failure is a race between VMA iteration and mm_struct teardown in exit_mmap(), avoiding dereference of invalid maple-tree state and lockdep warnings.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions identified in the CVE record, including 6.1, 6.1.22, 6.2.9, and 6.3 data entries. Distribution backports may change practical exposure, so packaged-kernel status must be verified with vendor advisories.

Exploitation context

The provided bundle marks CISA KEV as false and includes no evidence of public exploitation. It also provides no exploitability assessment, attacker prerequisites, CVSS score, or CWE classification.

Researcher notes

Key evidence is the upstream kernel fix text. The record lacks CVSS, CWE, impact class, and exploit details. Focus validation on whether packaged kernels carry the KSM mmap_lock recheck before VMA iteration.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor kernel updates that include the referenced KSM stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for backported fixes and affected package versions.
  • Prioritize systems running affected 6.1, 6.2, or 6.3 kernel lines.
  • Avoid relying only on upstream version numbers when vendors backport patches.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux hosts and images.
  • Check whether vendor kernel packages include the referenced stable commits.
  • Review distribution security advisories for CVE-2023-53614 status.
  • Confirm no exposed systems remain on affected, unpatched kernel builds.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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-2023-53614 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.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxa5f18ba0727656bd1fe3bcdb0d563f81790f9a04, a5f18ba0727656bd1fe3bcdb0d563f81790f9a04, a5f18ba0727656bd1fe3bcdb0d563f81790f9a04unaffected
LinuxLinux6.1, 0, 6.1.22, 6.2.9, 6.3affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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