CVE-2023-53796
BaseFortify
Publication date: 2025-12-09
Last updated on: 2025-12-09
Assigner: kernel.org
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| linux | kernel | * |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-UNKNOWN |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability is in the Linux kernel's f2fs filesystem. When converting an inline directory to a regular directory, the code fails to initialize the entire directory block, causing uninitialized memory to be leaked to disk. This means that potentially sensitive data from memory could be written to disk unintentionally. The issue was introduced by a commit that avoided unnecessary initialization but did not consider the security risk of leaking uninitialized memory. The fix involves zero-initializing the directory block to prevent this leak.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability can lead to an information leak where uninitialized memory contents, which may include sensitive data, are written to disk. This could allow an attacker with access to the disk to retrieve unintended information, potentially compromising confidentiality.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
To mitigate this vulnerability, update your Linux kernel to a version that includes the fix for CVE-2023-53796, which zero-initializes the directory block to prevent information leakage. Applying the latest kernel patches or updates from your distribution that address this issue is recommended.