# CVE-2023-33952: Kernel: vmwgfx: double free within the handling of vmw_buffer_object objects

> A double-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel vmwgfx driver allows local privileged users to escalate privileges and execute code in kernel context.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 24 Jul 2023
- **Updated:** 25 Feb 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-27638, AZL-27756, BELL-CVE-2023-33952, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-33952, GHSA-8f4h-wr7j-w67m, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-33952

## What is CVE-2023-33952?

CVE-2023-33952 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 24 Jul 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A double-free vulnerability was found in handling vmw_buffer_object objects in the vmwgfx driver in the Linux kernel. This issue occurs due to the lack of validating the existence of an object prior to performing further free operations on the object, which may allow a local privileged user to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of the kernel.

Weakness: CWE-415 (Double Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-33952?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Linux kernel, Redhat Enterprise Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux for Real Time, Redhat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for Nfv.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-33952?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-33952 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-33952 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2023-33952 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-33952 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 24 Jul 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-2023-33952 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-2023-33952/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-33952/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-33952
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-33952
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-33952

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-33952/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.