CVE-2023-5633 Kernel: vmwgfx: reference count issue leads to use-after-free in surface handling

What is CVE-2023-5633?

CVE-2023-5633 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 23 Oct 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

The reference count changes made as part of the CVE-2023-33951 and CVE-2023-33952 fixes exposed a use-after-free flaw in the way memory objects were handled when they were being used to store a surface. When running inside a VMware guest with 3D acceleration enabled, a local, unprivileged user could potentially use this flaw to escalate their privileges.

Weakness: CWE-416, CWE-911

Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-5633?

It affects 22 products.

Products include Linux kernel, Redhat Codeready Linux Builder, Redhat Codeready Linux Builder Eus, Redhat Codeready Linux Builder for Arm64, Redhat Codeready Linux Builder for Arm64 Eus, Redhat Codeready Linux Builder for Ibm Z Systems and 16 more.

How do I fix CVE-2023-5633?

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-2023-5633 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-5633 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

• CVE-2026-53266 Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2013-6282 Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2022-0185 Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2013-2094 Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2026-53362 Linux Kernel Unspecified Exploited High 7.8

All Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as AZL-31760, BELL-CVE-2023-5633, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-5633, GHSA-3hmc-jxr7-rw7j, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-5633.