# CVE-2023-5717: Out-of-bounds write in Linux kernel's Linux Kernel Performance Events (perf) component

> A heap out-of-bounds write in the Linux kernel perf component allows local attackers to achieve privilege escalation and execute arbitrary code.

- **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:** 25 Oct 2023
- **Updated:** 14 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-31774, AZL-31814, BELL-CVE-2023-5717, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-5717, GHSA-gv6g-gf42-rjg7, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-5717

## What is CVE-2023-5717?

CVE-2023-5717 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 25 Oct 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A heap out-of-bounds write vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Linux Kernel Performance Events (perf) component can be exploited to achieve local privilege escalation.

If perf_read_group() is called while an event's sibling_list is smaller than its child's sibling_list, it can increment or write to memory locations outside of the allocated buffer.

We recommend upgrading past commit 32671e3799ca2e4590773fd0e63aaa4229e50c06.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-5717?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-5717?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-5717 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-5717 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- https://github.com/uthrasri/CVE-2023-5717 (github_poc): https://github.com/uthrasri/CVE-2023-5717

## 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-2023-5717 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-5717 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 25 Oct 2023. 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-2023-5717 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-2023-5717/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-5717/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-5717
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-5717
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-5717

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-5717/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.