CVE-2023-53189

ipv6/addrconf: fix a potential refcount underflow for idev

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: September 15, 2025 at 02:05 PM UTC
Updated: October 15, 2026 at 10:17 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6/addrconf: fix a potential refcount underflow for idev Now in addrconf_mod_rs_timer(), reference idev depends on whether rs_timer is not pending. Then modify rs_timer timeout. There is a time gap in [1], during which if the pending rs_timer becomes not pending. It will miss to hold idev, but the rs_timer is activated. Thus rs_timer callback function addrconf_rs_timer() will be executed and put idev later without holding idev. A refcount underflow issue for idev can be caused by this. if (!timer_pending(&idev->rs_timer)) in6_dev_hold(idev); <--------------[1] mod_timer(&idev->rs_timer, jiffies + when); To fix the issue, hold idev if mod_timer() return 0.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

3.10.105 ≤ v < 4.14.3224.15 ≤ v < 4.19.2914.20 ≤ v < 5.4.2515.11 ≤ v < 5.15.1215.16 ≤ v < 6.1.405.5 ≤ v < 5.10.1886.2 ≤ v < 6.4.53.10.1056.56.5 rc1973d5956f754cfc306f5e274d71503498f4b0324b7b1bfce0bb68bd8f6e62a28295922785cc63781
Vendor states this is fixed in 06a0716949c22e2aefb648526580671197151acc (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 1f656e483eb4733d62f18dfb206a49b78f60f495 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 2ad31ce40e8182860b631e37209e93e543790b7c (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 436b7cc7eae7851c184b671ed7a4a64c750b86f7 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 82abd1c37d3bf2a2658b34772c17a25a6f9cca42 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in c6395e32935d35e6f935e7caf1c2dac5a95943b4 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in c7eeba47058532f6077d6a658e38b6698f6ae71a (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in df62fdcd004afa72ecbed0e862ebb983acd3aa57 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 3.11 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 4.14.322 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 4.19.291 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.10.188 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.15.121 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.4.251 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.40 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.4.5 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.5 (unaffected)

References (8)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/06a0716949c22e2aefb648526580671197151acc
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1f656e483eb4733d62f18dfb206a49b78f60f495
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2ad31ce40e8182860b631e37209e93e543790b7c
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/436b7cc7eae7851c184b671ed7a4a64c750b86f7
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/82abd1c37d3bf2a2658b34772c17a25a6f9cca42
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c6395e32935d35e6f935e7caf1c2dac5a95943b4
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c7eeba47058532f6077d6a658e38b6698f6ae71a
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/df62fdcd004afa72ecbed0e862ebb983acd3aa57

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-191

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