CVE-2023-53494 crypto: xts - Handle EBUSY correctly
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's XTS crypto module allows attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges by triggering EBUSY errors.
- 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
What is CVE-2023-53494?
CVE-2023-53494 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 1 Oct 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:
crypto: xts - Handle EBUSY correctly
As it is xts only handles the special return value of EINPROGRESS, which means that in all other cases it will free data related to the request.
However, as the caller of xts may specify MAY_BACKLOG, we also need to expect EBUSY and treat it in the same way. Otherwise backlogged requests will trigger a use-after-free.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53494?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2023-53494?
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-2023-53494 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53494 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-53494, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53494, GHSA-3646-gh58-xhcx, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53494.