CVE-2023-53799 crypto: api - Use work queue in crypto_destroy_instance
A local attacker can cause a kernel crash by triggering a use-after-free in the crypto API during instance unregistration.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2023-53799?
CVE-2023-53799 is a denial of service vulnerability in Linux, published on 9 Dec 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: api - Use work queue in crypto_destroy_instance
The function crypto_drop_spawn expects to be called in process context. However, when an instance is unregistered while it still has active users, the last user may cause the instance to be freed in atomic context.
Fix this by delaying the freeing to a work queue.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53799?
How do I fix CVE-2023-53799?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, then put limits on request size, rate and nesting depth so one client cannot exhaust the service. More about Denial of service.
Is CVE-2023-53799 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53799 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-53799, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53799, GHSA-cp5p-6f9j-7hj2, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53799.