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NVD / CVE Program· CNA Linux

CVE-2023-53538: btrfs: insert tree mod log move in push_node_left

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: 0.15% (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 11f14402fe3437852cb44945b3b9f1bdb4032956, 5cead5422a0e3d13b0bcee986c0f5c4ebb94100b, 7e0ee4cb02e6b485103ecd125743b2818a68993d.

Low priority for now. Upgrade to Linux Linux 11f14402fe3437852cb44945b3b9f1bdb4032956, 5cead5422a0e3d13b0bcee986c0f5c4ebb94100b, 7e0ee4cb02e6b485103ecd125743b2818a68993d 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: btrfs: insert tree mod log move in push_node_left There is a fairly unlikely race condition in tree mod log rewind that can result in a kernel panic which has the following trace: [530.569] BTRFS critical (device sda3): unable to find logical 0 length 4096 [530.585] BTRFS critical (device sda3): unable to find logical 0 length 4096 [530.602] BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000002 [530.618] #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode [530.629] #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page [530.641] PGD 0 P4D 0 [530.647] Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP [530.654] CPU: 30 PID: 398973 Comm: below Kdump: loaded Tainted: G S O K 5.12.0-0_fbk13_clang_7455_gb24de3bdb045 #1 [530.680] Hardware name: Quanta Mono Lake-M.2 SATA 1HY9U9Z001G/Mono Lake-M.2 SATA, BIOS F20_3A15 08/16/2017 [530.703] RIP: 0010:__btrfs_map_block+0xaa/0xd00 [530.755] RSP: 0018:ffffc9002c2f7600 EFLAGS: 00010246 [530.767] RAX: ffffffffffffffea RBX: ffff888292e41000 RCX: f2702d8b8be15100 [530.784] RDX: ffff88885fda6fb8 RSI: ffff88885fd973c8 RDI: ffff88885fd973c8 [530.800] RBP: ffff888292e410d0 R08: ffffffff82fd7fd0 R09: 00000000fffeffff [530.816] R10: ffffffff82e57fd0 R11: ffffffff82e57d70 R12: 0000000000000000 [530.832] R13: 0000000000001000 R14: 0000000000001000 R15: ffffc9002c2f76f0 [530.848] FS: 00007f38d64af000(0000) GS:ffff88885fd80000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 [530.866] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [530.880] CR2: 0000000000000002 CR3: 00000002b6770004 CR4: 00000000003706e0 [530.896] DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 [530.912] DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 [530.928] Call Trace: [530.934] ? btrfs_printk+0x13b/0x18c [530.943] ? btrfs_bio_counter_inc_blocked+0x3d/0x130 [530.955] btrfs_map_bio+0x75/0x330 [530.963] ? kmem_cache_alloc+0x12a/0x2d0 [530.973] ? btrfs_submit_metadata_bio+0x63/0x100 [530.984] btrfs_submit_metadata_bio+0xa4/0x100 [530.995] submit_extent_page+0x30f/0x360 [531.004] read_extent_buffer_pages+0x49e/0x6d0 [531.015] ? submit_extent_page+0x360/0x360 [531.025] btree_read_extent_buffer_pages+0x5f/0x150 [531.037] read_tree_block+0x37/0x60 [531.046] read_block_for_search+0x18b/0x410 [531.056] btrfs_search_old_slot+0x198/0x2f0 [531.066] resolve_indirect_ref+0xfe/0x6f0 [531.076] ? ulist_alloc+0x31/0x60 [531.084] ? kmem_cache_alloc_trace+0x12e/0x2b0 [531.095] find_parent_nodes+0x720/0x1830 [531.105] ? ulist_alloc+0x10/0x60 [531.113] iterate_extent_inodes+0xea/0x370 [531.123] ? btrfs_previous_extent_item+0x8f/0x110 [531.134] ? btrfs_search_path_in_tree+0x240/0x240 [531.146] iterate_inodes_from_logical+0x98/0xd0 [531.157] ? btrfs_search_path_in_tree+0x240/0x240 [531.168] btrfs_ioctl_logical_to_ino+0xd9/0x180 [531.179] btrfs_ioctl+0xe2/0x2eb0 This occurs when logical inode resolution takes a tree mod log sequence number, and then while backref walking hits a rewind on a busy node which has the following sequence of tree mod log operations (numbers filled in from a specific example, but they are somewhat arbitrary) REMOVE_WHILE_FREEING slot 532 REMOVE_WHILE_FREEING slot 531 REMOVE_WHILE_FREEING slot 530 ... REMOVE_WHILE_FREEING slot 0 REMOVE slot 455 REMOVE slot 454 REMOVE slot 453 ... REMOVE slot 0 ADD slot 455 ADD slot 454 ADD slot 453 ... ADD slot 0 MOVE src slot 0 -> dst slot 456 nritems 533 REMOVE slot 455 REMOVE slot 454 REMOVE slot 453 ... REMOVE slot 0 When this sequence gets applied via btrfs_tree_mod_log_rewind, it allocates a fresh rewind eb, and first inserts the correct key info for the 533 elements, then overwrites the first 456 of them, then decrements the count by 456 via the add ops, then rewinds the move by doing a memmove from 456:988->0:532. We have never written anything past 532, ---truncated---

MediumCVSS 5.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Oct 4, 2025
Updated
Oct 3, 2026
EPSS
0.1% · 4th 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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  • Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
  • 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 kernel3.7.1 and later · before 6.4.4
  • linux linux kernel3.7

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

    • 3.7affected
    • 57911b8ba814fae01306376a0d02bc7cdc88dc94 and later · before 7e0ee4cb02e6b485103ecd125743b2818a68993daffected · git
    • 57911b8ba814fae01306376a0d02bc7cdc88dc94 and later · before 11f14402fe3437852cb44945b3b9f1bdb4032956affected · git
    • 57911b8ba814fae01306376a0d02bc7cdc88dc94 and later · before 5cead5422a0e3d13b0bcee986c0f5c4ebb94100baffected · git
    • before 3.7not affected · semver
    • 6.1.189 and later · up to and including 6.1.*not affected · semver
    • 6.4.4 and later · up to and including 6.4.*not affected · semver
    • 6.5 and laternot affected · original_commit_for_fix

Package-level exposure

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

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12linuxbefore 6.1.190-16.1.190-1
Debian:13linuxbefore 6.4.4-16.4.4-1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6dtb-aarch64before 6.4.0-150600.23.78.16.4.0-150600.23.78.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-64kbbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.78.16.4.0-150600.23.78.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-azurebefore 6.4.0-150600.8.55.16.4.0-150600.8.55.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-debugbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.78.16.4.0-150600.23.78.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-defaultbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.78.16.4.0-150600.23.78.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-default-basebefore 6.4.0-150600.23.78.1.150600.12.34.26.4.0-150600.23.78.1.150600.12.34.2
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-docsbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.78.16.4.0-150600.23.78.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-kvmsmallbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.78.16.4.0-150600.23.78.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-obs-buildbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.78.16.4.0-150600.23.78.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-obs-qabefore 6.4.0-150600.23.78.16.4.0-150600.23.78.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-rtbefore 6.4.0-150600.10.58.16.4.0-150600.10.58.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-rt_debugbefore 6.4.0-150600.10.58.16.4.0-150600.10.58.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-sourcebefore 6.4.0-150600.23.78.16.4.0-150600.23.78.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-source-azurebefore 6.4.0-150600.8.55.16.4.0-150600.8.55.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-source-rtbefore 6.4.0-150600.10.58.16.4.0-150600.10.58.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-symsbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.78.16.4.0-150600.23.78.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-syms-azurebefore 6.4.0-150600.8.55.16.4.0-150600.8.55.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-syms-rtbefore 6.4.0-150600.10.58.16.4.0-150600.10.58.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6kernel-zfcpdumpbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.78.16.4.0-150600.23.78.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6_Update_17before 1-150600.13.5.11-150600.13.5.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6-RT_Update_17before 1-150600.1.3.11-150600.1.3.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6kernel-64kbbefore 6.4.0-150600.23.78.16.4.0-150600.23.78.1

+20

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-2022-50505Oct 4, 2025 · iommu/amd: Fix pci device refcount leak in ppr_notifier()
    22Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2023-53535Oct 4, 2025 · net: bcmgenet: Add a check for oversized packets
    22Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2023-53540Oct 4, 2025 · wifi: cfg80211: reject auth/assoc to AP with our address
    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 Linux11f14402fe3437852cb44945b3b9f1bdb4032956Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux5cead5422a0e3d13b0bcee986c0f5c4ebb94100bVendor (CNA)
Linux Linux7e0ee4cb02e6b485103ecd125743b2818a68993dVendor (CNA)
debian:linux6.1.190-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
debian:linux6.4.4-1 · Debian:13Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:dtb-aarch646.4.0-150600.23.78.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-64kb6.4.0-150600.23.78.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-azure6.4.0-150600.8.55.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-debug6.4.0-150600.23.78.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-default6.4.0-150600.23.78.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-default-base6.4.0-150600.23.78.1.150600.12.34.2 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-docs6.4.0-150600.23.78.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-kvmsmall6.4.0-150600.23.78.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-obs-build6.4.0-150600.23.78.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-obs-qa6.4.0-150600.23.78.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-source-azure6.4.0-150600.8.55.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-syms-azure6.4.0-150600.8.55.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-64kb6.4.0-150600.23.78.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-azure6.4.0-150600.8.55.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-default6.4.0-150600.23.78.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-default6.4.0-36.1 · SUSE:Linux Micro 6.0Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-default-base6.4.0-150600.23.78.1.150600.12.34.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-default-base6.4.0-36.1.21.13 · SUSE:Linux Micro 6.0Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-docs6.4.0-150600.23.78.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-kvmsmall6.4.0-36.1 · SUSE:Linux Micro 6.0Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-rt6.4.0-38.1 · SUSE:Linux Micro 6.0Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-source6.4.0-150600.23.78.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-source6.4.0-36.1 · SUSE:Linux Micro 6.0Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-source-azure6.4.0-150600.8.55.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-source-rt6.4.0-38.1 · SUSE:Linux Micro 6.0Package registry (OSV)

+2

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 (2 more)

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

All records