ipv6/addrconf: fix a potential refcount underflow for idev
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-191 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6/addrconf: fix a potential refcount underflow for idev Now in addrconf_mod_rs_timer(), reference idev depends on whether rs_timer is not pending. Then modify rs_timer timeout. There is a time gap in [1], during which if the pending rs_timer becomes not pending. It will miss to hold idev, but the rs_timer is activated. Thus rs_timer callback function addrconf_rs_timer() will be executed and put idev later without holding idev. A refcount underflow issue for idev can be caused by this. if (!timer_pending(&idev->rs_timer)) in6_dev_hold(idev); <--------------[1] mod_timer(&idev->rs_timer, jiffies + when); To fix the issue, hold idev if mod_timer() return 0.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 3.10.105 to before 3.11 | 3.11 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 3.11 and later | 4.14.322, 4.19.291, 5.4.251, 5.10.188, 5.15.121, 6.1.40, 6.4.5, 6.5 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 3.10.105 to before 3.11 Fixed in 3.11 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 3.11 and later Fixed in 4.14.322, 4.19.291, 5.4.251, 5.10.188, 5.15.121, 6.1.40, 6.4.5, 6.5 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.10.105 to before 4.14.322; 4.15 to before 4.19.291; 4.20 to before 5.4.251; 5.5 to before 5.10.188; 5.11 to before 5.15.121; 5.16 to before 6.1.40; 6.2 to before 6.4.5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.5:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.10.105 to before 4.14.322; 4.15 to before 4.19.291; 4.20 to before 5.4.251; 5.5 to before 5.10.188; 5.11 to before 5.15.121; 5.16 to before 6.1.40; 6.2 to before 6.4.5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.5:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 3.11
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 4.14.322, 4.19.291, 5.4.251, 5.10.188, 5.15.121, 6.1.40, 6.4.5, 6.5
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-53189
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4hgc-47xp-7m5f
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Patch 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c6395e32935d35e6f935e7caf1c2dac5a95943b4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/df62fdcd004afa72ecbed0e862ebb983acd3aa57
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c7eeba47058532f6077d6a658e38b6698f6ae71a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2ad31ce40e8182860b631e37209e93e543790b7c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/82abd1c37d3bf2a2658b34772c17a25a6f9cca42
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/436b7cc7eae7851c184b671ed7a4a64c750b86f7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1f656e483eb4733d62f18dfb206a49b78f60f495
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/06a0716949c22e2aefb648526580671197151acc
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
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- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2023-53189 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-53189 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-4hgc-47xp-7m5f · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2023-53189 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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