Distros-[dirtyvma] privilege escalation via non-rcu-protected vma traversal
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
A vulnerability exists in the memory management subsystem of the Linux kernel. The lock handling for accessing and updating virtual memory areas (VMAs) is incorrect, leading to use-after-free problems. This issue can be successfully exploited to execute arbitrary kernel code, escalate containers, and gain root privileges.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | kernel | — | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Fedora | Fedora | — | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- kernel Vendor— Affected — Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Fedora VendorFedora Affected — Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 15
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.1 to before 6.1.37; 6.2 to before 6.3.11 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.4 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.4 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.4 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.4 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.4 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.4 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.4 rc7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 37 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.1 to before 6.1.37; 6.2 to before 6.3.11 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.4 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.4 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.4 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.4 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.4 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.4 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.4 rc7 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 37 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
Show 5 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 38 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 38 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-3269
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-2j2w-8gvj-wjmj
References
Patch 1
Advisory 4
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Sources
- CVE-2023-3269 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-3269 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-2j2w-8gvj-wjmj · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2023-3269 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences