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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53728: posix-timers: Ensure timer ID search-loop limit is valid

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: posix-timers: Ensure timer ID search-loop limit is valid posix_timer_add() tries to allocate a posix timer ID by starting from the cached ID which was stored by the last successful allocation. This is done in a loop searching the ID space for a free slot one by one. The loop has to terminate when the search wrapped around to the starting point. But that's racy vs. establishing the starting point. That is read out lockless, which leads to the following problem: CPU0 CPU1 posix_timer_add() start = sig->posix_timer_id; lock(hash_lock); ... posix_timer_add() if (++sig->posix_timer_id < 0) start = sig->posix_timer_id; sig->posix_timer_id = 0; So CPU1 can observe a negative start value, i.e. -1, and the loop break never happens because the condition can never be true: if (sig->posix_timer_id == start) break; While this is unlikely to ever turn into an endless loop as the ID space is huge (INT_MAX), the racy read of the start value caught the attention of KCSAN and Dmitry unearthed that incorrectness. Rewrite it so that all id operations are under the hash lock.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel correctness flaw in POSIX timer ID allocation. The public record describes a rare race where the timer ID search limit can become invalid. Sources do not show active exploitation, CVSS severity, or concrete business impact beyond possible abnormal looping. Treat it as routine kernel maintenance unless local kernels are unpatched.

Executive priority

Schedule through normal kernel patch management. Escalate only where high-value shared systems run unpatched affected kernels or vendor status is unclear.

Technical view

posix_timer_add() read the cached timer ID start value without the hash lock. A concurrent allocation could let another CPU observe a negative start value during wrap handling, making the loop termination check invalid. The fix places all timer ID operations under hash_lock. The source does not identify a CWE, exploit primitive, or proven impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions or downstream builds without the stable fixes. Actual distro exposure depends on vendor backports, so package version alone may not prove vulnerability.

Exploitation context

No active exploitation is reported in the provided bundle, and KEV is false. The kernel description says an endless loop is unlikely because the ID space is huge, and the issue was identified through KCSAN race detection.

Researcher notes

This is a race in posix_timer_add() around sig->posix_timer_id start-value handling. The public text frames it as KCSAN-detected incorrectness, not a demonstrated exploit path. Avoid overstating impact without additional vendor analysis.

Mitigation direction

  • Check vendor kernel advisories for CVE-2023-53728 coverage.
  • Update to a kernel containing the referenced stable fix commits.
  • Prioritize internet-facing or multi-tenant Linux hosts if kernel updates are pending.
  • Confirm downstream distributions have backported the POSIX timer fix.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, containers hosts, and appliances.
  • Compare running kernels against vendor advisories and stable fix references.
  • Check change logs for the posix-timers hash_lock timer ID fix.
  • Record exceptions where vendors mark shipped kernels as backported or unaffected.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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CVE-2023-53728 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
9Source 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
LinuxLinux5ed67f05f66c41e39880a6d61358438a25f9fee5, 5ed67f05f66c41e39880a6d61358438a25f9fee5, 5ed67f05f66c41e39880a6d61358438a25f9fee5, 5ed67f05f66c41e39880a6d61358438a25f9fee5, 5ed67f05f66c41e39880a6d61358438a25f9fee5, 5ed67f05f66c41e39880a6d61358438a25f9fee5, 5ed67f05f66c41e39880a6d61358438a25f9fee5, 5ed67f05f66c41e39880a6d61358438a25f9fee5unaffected
LinuxLinux3.10, 0, 4.14.322, 4.19.291, 5.4.251, 5.10.188, 5.15.150, 6.1.107, 6.4.7, 6.5affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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