Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-6931 is a Linux kernel flaw that can let a local low-privileged user gain full control of the system. It affects the kernel Performance Events component. This is not a remote internet attack, but it matters on shared servers, developer systems, appliances, and environments where untrusted users or workloads can run code.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority patching item for Linux systems with local users or untrusted workloads. It is less urgent than a remote unauthenticated flaw, but successful exploitation could give an attacker complete host control.
Technical view
The issue is a heap out-of-bounds write in perf_read_group() caused by perf_event read_size overflow. The CVE lists local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The source recommends upgrading past Linux stable commit 382c27f4ed28f803b1f1473ac2d8db0afc795a1b.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel builds with local user or workload access. The CVE affected data specifically names Linux Kernel version 4.3, while downstream advisories from Debian and Siemens indicate vendor-specific relevance should be checked.
Exploitation context
The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges. No provided source or KEV status indicates active exploitation. Risk increases where users, containers, build jobs, or third-party applications can execute code on the same Linux host.
Researcher notes
The public bundle identifies CWE-787 and CVSS 7.8. Affected-version data appears narrow in the CVE record, but downstream advisories suggest distribution and product backport analysis is necessary. Avoid assuming impact solely from upstream version strings; verify vendor kernel lineage and patch status.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade to a kernel containing or superseding commit 382c27f4ed28f803b1f1473ac2d8db0afc795a1b.
- Check Debian LTS advisories if using Debian-supported kernels.
- Check Siemens advisories for affected Siemens products and vendor remediation guidance.
- Prioritize shared, multi-user, container-hosting, and externally managed Linux systems.
- If no vendor fix is available, follow vendor guidance for compensating controls.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, endpoints, appliances, and embedded systems.
- Compare installed kernel packages against vendor advisories and fixed package versions.
- Confirm whether the kernel changelog includes the referenced stable commit or a backport.
- Review whether untrusted local users or workloads can execute code on affected hosts.
- Document exceptions where vendor impact is unclear and request vendor confirmation.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-787: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupPrivilege behavior lookup
The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-6931 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- 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
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9GoogleVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/commit/?id=382c27f4ed28f803b1f1473ac2d8db0afc795a1bCVE reference, Google · patch
- https://kernel.dance/382c27f4ed28f803b1f1473ac2d8db0afc795a1bCVE reference, Google
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/01/msg00004.htmlCVE reference, Google
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/01/msg00005.htmlCVE reference, Google
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-794697.htmlCVE reference, siemens-SADP
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.htmlCVE reference, siemens-SADP
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-265688.htmlCVE reference, siemens-SADP
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-613116.htmlCVE reference, siemens-SADP
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.