# CVE-2023-53285: ext4: add bounds checking in get_max_inline_xattr_value_size()

> A missing bounds check in the Linux kernel ext4 filesystem allows out-of-bounds memory reads if the block device is modified while mounted, potentially causing crashes or data leaks.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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:** 16 Sep 2025
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2023-53285, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53285, GHSA-whjr-jhc6-c22f, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53285

## What is CVE-2023-53285?

CVE-2023-53285 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 16 Sep 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ext4: add bounds checking in get_max_inline_xattr_value_size()

Normally the extended attributes in the inode body would have been
checked when the inode is first opened, but if someone is writing to
the block device while the file system is mounted, it's possible for
the inode table to get corrupted.  Add bounds checking to avoid
reading beyond the end of allocated memory if this happens.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53285?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-53285?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-53285 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53285 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-2023-53285 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-53285 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 16 Sep 2025. 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-2023-53285 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-2023-53285/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-53285/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-53285
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-53285
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-53285

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-53285/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.