CVE-2023-53296

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: check send stream number after wait_for_sndbuf This patch fixes a corner case where the asoc out stream count may change after wait_for_sndbuf. When the main thread in the client starts a connection, if its out stream count is set to N while the in stream count in the server is set to N - 2, another thread in the client keeps sending the msgs with stream number N - 1, and waits for sndbuf before processing INIT_ACK. However, after processing INIT_ACK, the out stream count in the client is shrunk to N - 2, the same to the in stream count in the server. The crash occurs when the thread waiting for sndbuf is awake and sends the msg in a non-existing stream(N - 1), the call trace is as below: KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000038-0x000000000000003f] Call Trace: <TASK> sctp_cmd_send_msg net/sctp/sm_sideeffect.c:1114 [inline] sctp_cmd_interpreter net/sctp/sm_sideeffect.c:1777 [inline] sctp_side_effects net/sctp/sm_sideeffect.c:1199 [inline] sctp_do_sm+0x197d/0x5310 net/sctp/sm_sideeffect.c:1170 sctp_primitive_SEND+0x9f/0xc0 net/sctp/primitive.c:163 sctp_sendmsg_to_asoc+0x10eb/0x1a30 net/sctp/socket.c:1868 sctp_sendmsg+0x8d4/0x1d90 net/sctp/socket.c:2026 inet_sendmsg+0x9d/0xe0 net/ipv4/af_inet.c:825 sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:722 [inline] sock_sendmsg+0xde/0x190 net/socket.c:745 The fix is to add an unlikely check for the send stream number after the thread wakes up from the wait_for_sndbuf.

At a glance

Exploitability

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

Exploit odds

0.1% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

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

Timeline

1. 2025-09-16 08:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 06:44 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.1% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2025-09-16 08:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 06:44 UTC

Exploit probability

0.1% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-476 · NULL pointer dereference

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 4.19.281
• Linux Kernel < 5.4.241
• Linux Kernel < 5.10.178
• Linux Kernel < 5.15.107
• Linux Kernel < 6.1.24
• Linux Kernel < 6.2.11
• Linux Kernel 6.3

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.5

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2023-53296.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2023-53296. 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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