CVE-2023-52999 – This is a use-after-free vulnerability in the L... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2023-52999?

CVE-2023-52999 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). This is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's network namespace operations registration error path. It allows attackers with local access to potentially cause kernel memory corruption, leading to system crashes or privilege escalation. All Linux systems running affected kernel versions are vulnerable.

📋 TL;DR

This is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's network namespace operations registration error path. It allows attackers with local access to potentially cause kernel memory corruption, leading to system crashes or privilege escalation. All Linux systems running affected kernel versions are vulnerable.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux Kernel

Versions: Specific affected versions not explicitly stated in CVE, but references indicate multiple stable kernel versions before the fix.

Operating Systems: All Linux distributions using affected kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Vulnerability exists in default kernel configurations when network namespace operations fail during registration.

📦 What is this software?

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Kernel panic leading to denial of service or potential privilege escalation to root if combined with other vulnerabilities.

🟠

Likely Case

System crash or kernel panic causing denial of service.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact if proper access controls prevent local user access to vulnerable systems.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - Requires local access to exploit, not directly exploitable over network.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Local users or compromised accounts could exploit this to cause system instability.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Requires local access and ability to trigger the specific error path in network namespace operations registration.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits: 12075708f2e77ee6a9f8bb2cf512c38be3099794, 66689a72ba73575e76d4f6a8748d3fa2690ec1c4, 71ab9c3e2253619136c31c89dbb2c69305cc89b1, ad0dfe9bcf0d78e699c7efb64c90ed062dc48bea, d4c008f3b7f7d4ffd311eb2dae5e75b3cbddacd0

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/12075708f2e77ee6a9f8bb2cf512c38be3099794

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution's repositories. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify kernel version after reboot.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Restrict local user access

all

Limit local user accounts and privileges to reduce attack surface.

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict access controls to limit local user accounts
Monitor system logs for kernel panic or crash events

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check kernel version and compare with distribution's security advisories for affected versions.

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify kernel version after update matches patched version from distribution security advisory.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel panic messages
KASAN error reports
System crash dumps

SIEM Query:

source="kernel" AND ("KASAN" OR "slab-out-of-bounds" OR "ops_init" OR "net_assign_generic")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2023-52999

CVSS v3 Score: 7.8 (HIGH)

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

CWE: CWE-416

EPSS Score: 0.03% exploit probability (7.4th percentile)

Published: March 27, 2025

Last Updated: April 1, 2025

🔗 References

📤 Share & Export

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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