CVE-2023-2235 Use-after-free in Linux kernel's Performance Events subsystem

What is CVE-2023-2235?

CVE-2023-2235 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 1 May 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux Kernel Performance Events system can be exploited to achieve local privilege escalation.

The perf_group_detach function did not check the event's siblings' attach_state before calling add_event_to_groups(), but remove_on_exec made it possible to call list_del_event() on before detaching from their group, making it possible to use a dangling pointer causing a use-after-free vulnerability.

We recommend upgrading past commit fd0815f632c24878e325821943edccc7fde947a2.

Weakness: CWE-416

Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-2235?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2023-2235?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2023-2235 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-2235 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

• CVE-2026-53266 Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2013-6282 Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2022-0185 Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2013-2094 Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2026-53362 Linux Kernel Unspecified Exploited High 7.8

All Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as AZL-26389, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-2235, GHSA-hwwj-xrc2-6hxg, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-2235.