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TI-2023-29791 Aliases CVE-2023-53503GHSA-794g-3p8m-5jpc

ext4: allow ext4_get_group_info() to fail

Priority LOW 24CWE-476Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 10 fixed, 4 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-476.

Summary

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: allow ext4_get_group_info() to fail Previously, ext4_get_group_info() would treat an invalid group number as BUG(), since in theory it should never happen. However, if a malicious attaker (or fuzzer) modifies the superblock via the block device while it is the file system is mounted, it is possible for s_first_data_block to get set to a very large number. In that case, when calculating the block group of some block number (such as the starting block of a preallocation region), could result in an underflow and very large block group number. Then the BUG_ON check in ext4_get_group_info() would fire, resutling in a denial of service attack that can be triggered by root or someone with write access to the block device. For a quality of implementation perspective, it's best that even if the system administrator does something that they shouldn't, that it will not trigger a BUG. So instead of BUG'ing, ext4_get_group_info() will call ext4_error and return NULL. We also add fallback code in all of the callers of ext4_get_group_info() that it might NULL. Also, since ext4_get_group_info() was already borderline to be an inline function, un-inline it. The results in a next reduction of the compiled text size of ext4 by roughly 2k.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00159 5th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Linux (Linux): 5.10.181, 5.15.113, 6.1.30 +2Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 10 fixed, 4 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
LinuxLinux3.11 and later5.10.181, 5.15.113, 6.1.30, 6.3.4, 6.4Patch availableCNA
  • Linux VendorLinux Affected 3.11 and later Fixed in 5.10.181, 5.15.113, 6.1.30, 6.3.4, 6.4 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 2

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*3.11 to before 5.10.181; 5.11 to before 5.15.113; 5.16 to before 6.1.30; 6.2 to before 6.3.4VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*6.4 rc1VulnerableLinux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.11 to before 5.10.181; 5.11 to before 5.15.113; 5.16 to before 6.1.30; 6.2 to before 6.3.4 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.4 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.181, 5.15.113, 6.1.30, 6.3.4, 6.4

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2024:10771 Released 2024-12-04 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    kernel security update
    • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4, libperf-5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.4) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4 +11
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4) bpftool-7.3.0-427.47.1.el9_4, kernel-5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4 +29
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4 +9
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.47.1.el9_4 +11
  • RHSA-2024:9315 Released 2024-11-12 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    kernel security update
    • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-cross-headers-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, libperf-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) bpftool-7.4.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-64k-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 +30
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 +9
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 +11

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2024:9315
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2024:10771
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2024:9315
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2024:10771
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2024:9315
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2024:10771
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2024:9315
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2024:10771
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2024:9315
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2024:10771
Not affected: 3 products
  • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-53503
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-794g-3p8m-5jpc
  3. 2026-11-05 CISA SSVC decision points changed

References

Patch 5

  • TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • 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
See all 15278 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences