# CVE-2023-1281: UAF in Linux kernel's tcindex (traffic control index filter) implementation

> A local attacker can exploit a use-after-free in the Linux kernel's tcindex filter to escalate privileges to root.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 22 Mar 2023
- **Updated:** 30 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-25690, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-1281, GHSA-r66m-27p7-w8fm, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-1281

## What is CVE-2023-1281?

CVE-2023-1281 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 22 Mar 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Use After Free vulnerability in Linux kernel traffic control index filter (tcindex) allows Privilege Escalation. The imperfect hash area can be updated while packets are traversing, which will cause a use-after-free when 'tcf_exts_exec()' is called with the destroyed tcf_ext. A local attacker user can use this vulnerability to elevate its privileges to root.

This issue affects Linux Kernel: from 4.14 before git commit ee059170b1f7e94e55fa6cadee544e176a6e59c2.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-1281?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-1281?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-1281 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-1281 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- https://github.com/lanleft/CVE-2023-1281 (github_poc): https://github.com/lanleft/CVE-2023-1281

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-1281 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-1281 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 22 Mar 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-1281 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1281/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1281/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-1281
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-1281
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-1281

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1281/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.