CVE-2023-53862

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: hfs: fix missing hfs_bnode_get() in __hfs_bnode_create Syzbot found a kernel BUG in hfs_bnode_put(): kernel BUG at fs/hfs/bnode.c:466! invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP KASAN CPU: 0 PID: 3634 Comm: kworker/u4:5 Not tainted 6.1.0-rc7-syzkaller-00190-g97ee9d1c1696 #0 Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 10/26/2022 Workqueue: writeback wb_workfn (flush-7:0) RIP: 0010:hfs_bnode_put+0x46f/0x480 fs/hfs/bnode.c:466 Code: 8a 80 ff e9 73 fe ff ff 89 d9 80 e1 07 80 c1 03 38 c1 0f 8c a0 fe ff ff 48 89 df e8 db 8a 80 ff e9 93 fe ff ff e8 a1 68 2c ff <0f> 0b e8 9a 68 2c ff 0f 0b 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 55 41 57 41 56 RSP: 0018:ffffc90003b4f258 EFLAGS: 00010293 RAX: ffffffff825e318f RBX: 0000000000000000 RCX: ffff8880739dd7c0 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: 0000000000000000 RBP: ffffc90003b4f430 R08: ffffffff825e2d9b R09: ffffed10045157d1 R10: ffffed10045157d1 R11: 1ffff110045157d0 R12: ffff8880228abe80 R13: ffff88807016c000 R14: dffffc0000000000 R15: ffff8880228abe00 FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff8880b9800000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 00007fa6ebe88718 CR3: 000000001e93d000 CR4: 00000000003506f0 DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 Call Trace: <TASK> hfs_write_inode+0x1bc/0xb40 write_inode fs/fs-writeback.c:1440 [inline] __writeback_single_inode+0x4d6/0x670 fs/fs-writeback.c:1652 writeback_sb_inodes+0xb3b/0x18f0 fs/fs-writeback.c:1878 __writeback_inodes_wb+0x125/0x420 fs/fs-writeback.c:1949 wb_writeback+0x440/0x7b0 fs/fs-writeback.c:2054 wb_check_start_all fs/fs-writeback.c:2176 [inline] wb_do_writeback fs/fs-writeback.c:2202 [inline] wb_workfn+0x827/0xef0 fs/fs-writeback.c:2235 process_one_work+0x877/0xdb0 kernel/workqueue.c:2289 worker_thread+0xb14/0x1330 kernel/workqueue.c:2436 kthread+0x266/0x300 kernel/kthread.c:376 ret_from_fork+0x1f/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:306 </TASK> The BUG_ON() is triggered at here: /* Dispose of resources used by a node */ void hfs_bnode_put(struct hfs_bnode *node) { if (node) { <skipped> BUG_ON(!atomic_read(&node->refcnt)); <- we have issue here!!!! <skipped> } } By tracing the refcnt, I found the node is created by hfs_bmap_alloc() with refcnt 1. Then the node is used by hfs_btree_write(). There is a missing of hfs_bnode_get() after find the node. The issue happened in following path: <alloc> hfs_bmap_alloc hfs_bnode_find __hfs_bnode_create <- allocate a new node with refcnt 1. hfs_bnode_put <- decrease the refcnt <write> hfs_btree_write hfs_bnode_find __hfs_bnode_create hfs_bnode_findhash <- find the node without refcnt increased. hfs_bnode_put <- trigger the BUG_ON() since refcnt is 0.

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

No patch or advisory is linked yet. Look at mitigations or restrict exposure.

Timeline

1. 2025-12-09 01:27 UTC ReservedThe CVE id was reserved by its CNA
2. 2025-12-09 16:17 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
3. 2026-08-04 10:19 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: none linked yet, which raises it.

Details

Published

2025-12-09 16:17 UTC

Last modified

2026-08-04 10:19 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Record status

Deferred

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?

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-2023-53862.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2023-53862. 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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