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NVD / CVE Program· CNA Linux

CVE-2023-53167: tracing: Fix null pointer dereference in tracing_err_log_open()

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Monitor (action score 22/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.16% (FIRST EPSS).
  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
  • Fixed version: Linux Linux 02b0095e2fbbc060560c1065f86a211d91e27b26, 1e1c9aa9288a46c342f0f2c5c0b1c0876b9b0276, 3b5d9b7b875968a8a8c99dac45cb85b705c44802.

Low priority for now. Upgrade to Linux Linux 02b0095e2fbbc060560c1065f86a211d91e27b26, 1e1c9aa9288a46c342f0f2c5c0b1c0876b9b0276, 3b5d9b7b875968a8a8c99dac45cb85b705c44802 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing: Fix null pointer dereference in tracing_err_log_open() Fix an issue in function 'tracing_err_log_open'. The function doesn't call 'seq_open' if the file is opened only with write permissions, which results in 'file->private_data' being left as null. If we then use 'lseek' on that opened file, 'seq_lseek' dereferences 'file->private_data' in 'mutex_lock(&m->lock)', resulting in a kernel panic. Writing to this node requires root privileges, therefore this bug has very little security impact. Tracefs node: /sys/kernel/tracing/error_log Example Kernel panic: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000038 Call trace: mutex_lock+0x30/0x110 seq_lseek+0x34/0xb8 __arm64_sys_lseek+0x6c/0xb8 invoke_syscall+0x58/0x13c el0_svc_common+0xc4/0x10c do_el0_svc+0x24/0x98 el0_svc+0x24/0x88 el0t_64_sync_handler+0x84/0xe4 el0t_64_sync+0x1b4/0x1b8 Code: d503201f aa0803e0 aa1f03e1 aa0103e9 (c8e97d02) ---[ end trace 561d1b49c12cf8a5 ]--- Kernel panic - not syncing: Oops: Fatal exception

MediumCVSS 5.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Sep 15, 2025
Updated
Jun 17, 2026
EPSS
0.1% · 5th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

22

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
22 / 40 · 5.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
0 / 30 · 0.1%

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  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
linuxlinux kernel

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • linux linux kernel5.2 and later · before 5.4.251
  • linux linux kernel5.5 and later · before 5.10.188
  • linux linux kernel5.11 and later · before 5.15.121
  • linux linux kernel5.16 and later · before 6.1.40
  • linux linux kernel6.2 and later · before 6.4.5

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (Linux). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • Linux Linux

    • 5.2affected
    • 8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a and later · before 93114cbc7cb169f6f26eeaed5286b91bb86b463baffected · git
    • 8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a and later · before 7060e5aac6dc195124c106f49106d653a416323aaffected · git
    • 8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a and later · before 3b5d9b7b875968a8a8c99dac45cb85b705c44802affected · git
    • 8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a and later · before 938d5b7a75e18264887387ddf9169db6d8aeef98affected · git
    • 8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a and later · before 1e1c9aa9288a46c342f0f2c5c0b1c0876b9b0276affected · git
    • 8a062902be725f647dc8da532b04d836546a369a and later · before 02b0095e2fbbc060560c1065f86a211d91e27b26affected · git
    • before 5.2not affected · semver
    • 5.4.251 and later · up to and including 5.4.*not affected · semver
    • 5.10.188 and later · up to and including 5.10.*not affected · semver

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12linuxbefore 6.1.52-16.1.52-1
Debian:13linuxbefore 6.4.11-16.4.11-1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6dtb-aarch64before 6.4.0-150600.23.73.16.4.0-150600.23.73.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-64kbbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.73.16.4.0-150600.23.73.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-azurebefore 6.4.0-150600.8.52.16.4.0-150600.8.52.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-debugbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.73.16.4.0-150600.23.73.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-defaultbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.73.16.4.0-150600.23.73.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-default-basebefore 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1.150600.12.32.16.4.0-150600.23.73.1.150600.12.32.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-docsbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.73.16.4.0-150600.23.73.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-kvmsmallbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.73.16.4.0-150600.23.73.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-obs-buildbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.73.16.4.0-150600.23.73.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-obs-qabefore 6.4.0-150600.23.73.16.4.0-150600.23.73.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-rtbefore 6.4.0-150600.10.55.16.4.0-150600.10.55.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-rt_debugbefore 6.4.0-150600.10.55.16.4.0-150600.10.55.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-sourcebefore 6.4.0-150600.23.73.16.4.0-150600.23.73.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-source-azurebefore 6.4.0-150600.8.52.16.4.0-150600.8.52.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-source-rtbefore 6.4.0-150600.10.55.16.4.0-150600.10.55.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-symsbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.73.16.4.0-150600.23.73.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-syms-azurebefore 6.4.0-150600.8.52.16.4.0-150600.8.52.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-syms-rtbefore 6.4.0-150600.10.55.16.4.0-150600.10.55.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-zfcpdumpbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.73.16.4.0-150600.23.73.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6_Update_16before 1-150600.13.3.11-150600.13.3.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6-RT_Update_16before 1-150600.1.3.11-150600.1.3.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_6before 1-150700.15.3.11-150700.15.3.1

+36

Same product

linux: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2026-31431crypto: algif_aead - Revert to operating out-of-placeKEV
    90Now
  • CVE-2022-0847A flaw was found in the way the "flags" member of the new pipe buffer structure was lacking proper initialization in copy_page_to_iter_pipe KEV
    89Now
  • CVE-2021-22555Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACEKEV
    85Now

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2023-53165Sep 15, 2025 · udf: Fix uninitialized array access for some pathnames
    22Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2023-53166Sep 15, 2025 · power: supply: bq25890: Fix external_power_changed race
    18Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2023-53168Sep 15, 2025 · usb: ucsi_acpi: Increase the command completion timeout
    22Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
Linux Linux02b0095e2fbbc060560c1065f86a211d91e27b26Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux1e1c9aa9288a46c342f0f2c5c0b1c0876b9b0276Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux3b5d9b7b875968a8a8c99dac45cb85b705c44802Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux7060e5aac6dc195124c106f49106d653a416323aVendor (CNA)
Linux Linux93114cbc7cb169f6f26eeaed5286b91bb86b463bVendor (CNA)
Linux Linux938d5b7a75e18264887387ddf9169db6d8aeef98Vendor (CNA)
debian:linux6.1.52-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:dtb-aarch646.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-64kb6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-debug6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-default6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-default-base6.4.0-150600.23.73.1.150600.12.32.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-docs6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-kvmsmall6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-obs-build6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-obs-qa6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-source6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-syms6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-zfcpdump6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-64kb6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-azure6.4.0-150600.8.52.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-default6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-default-base6.4.0-150600.23.73.1.150600.12.32.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-docs6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6_Update_161-150600.13.3.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-obs-build6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-source6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-source-azure6.4.0-150600.8.52.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-syms6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-syms-azure6.4.0-150600.8.52.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)

+1

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

No dated events beyond publication.

No history yet (it accumulates with the daily EPSS job).

Patch and commit links

Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.

No commit or PR link among the references.

Credits

All researchers

Finders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.

No credits in the CNA record.

Variant candidates

Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.

No nightly-computed relations.

Chain candidates

An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.

—

Bug bounty scope

No known public program.

Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).

Technical details

Attack conditions

  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
  • A low-privileged account is enough.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality
none
Integrity
none
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
None
Integrity impact
None
Availability impact
High

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-476 · NULL Pointer Dereference

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

nvd-primary

Attack context

MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.

MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.

Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →

References

Show all references (5 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records