# CVE-2023-53307: rbd: avoid use-after-free in do_rbd_add() when rbd_dev_create() fails

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's rbd driver allows local attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges when device creation fails.

- **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:** 16 Sep 2025
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2023-53307, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53307, GHSA-8r48-cm72-rr67, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53307

## What is CVE-2023-53307?

CVE-2023-53307 is a high-severity use after free 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:

rbd: avoid use-after-free in do_rbd_add() when rbd_dev_create() fails

If getting an ID or setting up a work queue in rbd_dev_create() fails,
use-after-free on rbd_dev->rbd_client, rbd_dev->spec and rbd_dev->opts
is triggered in do_rbd_add().  The root cause is that the ownership of
these structures is transfered to rbd_dev prematurely and they all end
up getting freed when rbd_dev_create() calls rbd_dev_free() prior to
returning to do_rbd_add().

Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE, an
incomplete patch submitted by Natalia Petrova <n.petrova@fintech.ru>.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53307?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-53307?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-53307 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53307 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-2023-53307 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-53307 is a high-severity use after free 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-2023-53307 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-2023-53307/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-53307/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-53307
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-53307
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-53307

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-53307/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.