CVE-2023-52523

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf, sockmap: Reject sk_msg egress redirects to non-TCP sockets With a SOCKMAP/SOCKHASH map and an sk_msg program user can steer messages sent from one TCP socket (s1) to actually egress from another TCP socket (s2): tcp_bpf_sendmsg(s1) // = sk_prot->sendmsg tcp_bpf_send_verdict(s1) // __SK_REDIRECT case tcp_bpf_sendmsg_redir(s2) tcp_bpf_push_locked(s2) tcp_bpf_push(s2) tcp_rate_check_app_limited(s2) // expects tcp_sock tcp_sendmsg_locked(s2) // ditto There is a hard-coded assumption in the call-chain, that the egress socket (s2) is a TCP socket. However in commit 122e6c79efe1 ("sock_map: Update sock type checks for UDP") we have enabled redirects to non-TCP sockets. This was done for the sake of BPF sk_skb programs. There was no indention to support sk_msg send-to-egress use case. As a result, attempts to send-to-egress through a non-TCP socket lead to a crash due to invalid downcast from sock to tcp_sock: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 000000000000002f ... Call Trace: <TASK> ? show_regs+0x60/0x70 ? __die+0x1f/0x70 ? page_fault_oops+0x80/0x160 ? do_user_addr_fault+0x2d7/0x800 ? rcu_is_watching+0x11/0x50 ? exc_page_fault+0x70/0x1c0 ? asm_exc_page_fault+0x27/0x30 ? tcp_tso_segs+0x14/0xa0 tcp_write_xmit+0x67/0xce0 __tcp_push_pending_frames+0x32/0xf0 tcp_push+0x107/0x140 tcp_sendmsg_locked+0x99f/0xbb0 tcp_bpf_push+0x19d/0x3a0 tcp_bpf_sendmsg_redir+0x55/0xd0 tcp_bpf_send_verdict+0x407/0x550 tcp_bpf_sendmsg+0x1a1/0x390 inet_sendmsg+0x6a/0x70 sock_sendmsg+0x9d/0xc0 ? sockfd_lookup_light+0x12/0x80 __sys_sendto+0x10e/0x160 ? syscall_enter_from_user_mode+0x20/0x60 ? __this_cpu_preempt_check+0x13/0x20 ? lockdep_hardirqs_on+0x82/0x110 __x64_sys_sendto+0x1f/0x30 do_syscall_64+0x38/0x90 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd Reject selecting a non-TCP sockets as redirect target from a BPF sk_msg program to prevent the crash. When attempted, user will receive an EACCES error from send/sendto/sendmsg() syscall.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2024-03-02 22:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-08-04 10:18 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 7.8 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2024-03-02 22:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-08-04 10:18 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-476 · NULL pointer dereference

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 5.15.135
• Linux Kernel < 6.1.57
• Linux Kernel < 6.5.7
• Linux Kernel 6.6

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.8

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

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Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2023-52523.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2023-52523. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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