CVE-2023-53328
NoneCVSS
—
EPSS
0.1%
Published
Sep 16, 2025
CISA due date
—
Cloudanix analysis
A flaw in the Linux kernel's handling of certain file operations on NTFS drives can crash the entire system, requiring an update to prevent outages.
- Exploitation
- Local Privilege
- Attacker needs
- Local User
- Complexity
- Moderate
- Impact
- Denial Of Service
- Component
- OS kernel
- Class
- Memory Corruption
- Remediation
- Upgrade
- Effort
- Medium
- Patch risk
- Low
What it actually does
NULL pointer dereference in ni_create_attr_list during NTFS attribute list generation triggered by extended attribute operations in the ntfs3 driver.
Why it matters to the business
Kernel crashes and denial of service on systems mounting NTFS volumes; high ecosystem prevalence in Linux distributions increases operational disruption risk for servers and containers handling external storage.
How an attack unfolds
An attacker with local access crafts a malicious NTFS image or uses setxattr on an ntfs3-mounted volume to reach ni_create_attr_list with invalid state, causing the NULL dereference during attribute insertion.
How to fix it
Upgrade the Linux kernel to a version containing commit e7799bb4dbe26bfb665f29ea87981708fd6012d8 or later stable releases; apply the patch replacing WARN_ON with proper error handling in ni_create_attr_list.
How to confirm the fix worked
Verify the presence of the fix commit in the running kernel source or check for updated package versions in distributions; reproduce the original oops trace to confirm exposure before patching.
Typical attack path
- Mount a crafted or attacker-controlled NTFS volume using the ntfs3 driver
- Perform extended attribute operations via setxattr or similar syscalls
- Trigger ni_insert_attr and ni_create_attr_list paths with malformed attribute data
- Cause kernel NULL pointer dereference leading to oops and potential exploitation
How to detect it
Search kernel logs for oops traces containing ni_create_attr_list, ni_insert_attr, ntfs_set_ea, or ntfs_setxattr; inspect for processes performing setxattr on ntfs3 mounts.
- ni_create_attr_list+0x505/0x860
- BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference
- ntfs_setxattr
- ntfs_set_ea
- ni_insert_attr
What your security team should do
- Apply kernel updates containing the referenced commit immediately on systems using ntfs3
- Disable ntfs3 module or restrict NTFS mounts if patching is delayed
- Monitor for kernel oops logs related to ntfs3 attribute handling
- Review container and VM workloads that may inherit the vulnerable kernel
The record
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/ntfs3: Enhance sanity check while generating attr_list ni_create_attr_list uses WARN_ON to catch error cases while generating attribute list, which only prints out stack trace and may not be enough. This repalces them with more proper error handling flow. [ 59.666332] BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 000000000000000e [ 59.673268] #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode [ 59.678354] #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page [ 59.682831] PGD 8000000005ff1067 P4D 8000000005ff1067 PUD 7dee067 PMD 0 [ 59.688556] Oops: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP KASAN PTI [ 59.692642] CPU: 0 PID: 198 Comm: poc Tainted: G B W 6.2.0-rc1+ #4 [ 59.698868] Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS rel-1.16.0-0-gd239552ce722-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014 [ 59.708795] RIP: 0010:ni_create_attr_list+0x505/0x860 [ 59.713657] Code: 7e 10 e8 5e d0 d0 ff 45 0f b7 76 10 48 8d 7b 16 e8 00 d1 d0 ff 66 44 89 73 16 4d 8d 75 0e 4c 89 f7 e8 3f d0 d0 ff 4c 8d8 [ 59.731559] RSP: 0018:ffff88800a56f1e0 EFLAGS: 00010282 [ 59.735691] RAX: 0000000000000001 RBX: ffff88800b7b5088 RCX: ffffffffb83079fe [ 59.741792] RDX: 0000000000000001 RSI: 0000000000000008 RDI: ffffffffbb7f9fc0 [ 59.748423] RBP: ffff88800a56f3a8 R08: ffff88800b7b50a0 R09: fffffbfff76ff3f9 [ 59.754654] R10: ffffffffbb7f9fc7 R11: fffffbfff76ff3f8 R12: ffff88800b756180 [ 59.761552] R13: 0000000000000000 R14: 000000000000000e R15: 0000000000000050 [ 59.768323] FS: 00007feaa8c96440(0000) GS:ffff88806d400000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 [ 59.776027] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [ 59.781395] CR2: 00007f3a2e0b1000 CR3: 000000000a5bc000 CR4: 00000000000006f0 [ 59.787607] Call Trace: [ 59.790271] <TASK> [ 59.792488] ? __pfx_ni_create_attr_list+0x10/0x10 [ 59.797235] ? kernel_text_address+0xd3/0xe0 [ 59.800856] ? unwind_get_return_address+0x3e/0x60 [ 59.805101] ? __kasan_check_write+0x18/0x20 [ 59.809296] ? preempt_count_sub+0x1c/0xd0 [ 59.813421] ni_ins_attr_ext+0x52c/0x5c0 [ 59.817034] ? __pfx_ni_ins_attr_ext+0x10/0x10 [ 59.821926] ? __vfs_setxattr+0x121/0x170 [ 59.825718] ? __vfs_setxattr_noperm+0x97/0x300 [ 59.829562] ? __vfs_setxattr_locked+0x145/0x170 [ 59.833987] ? vfs_setxattr+0x137/0x2a0 [ 59.836732] ? do_setxattr+0xce/0x150 [ 59.839807] ? setxattr+0x126/0x140 [ 59.842353] ? path_setxattr+0x164/0x180 [ 59.845275] ? __x64_sys_setxattr+0x71/0x90 [ 59.848838] ? do_syscall_64+0x3f/0x90 [ 59.851898] ? entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x72/0xdc [ 59.857046] ? stack_depot_save+0x17/0x20 [ 59.860299] ni_insert_attr+0x1ba/0x420 [ 59.863104] ? __pfx_ni_insert_attr+0x10/0x10 [ 59.867069] ? preempt_count_sub+0x1c/0xd0 [ 59.869897] ? _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore+0x2b/0x50 [ 59.874088] ? __create_object+0x3ae/0x5d0 [ 59.877865] ni_insert_resident+0xc4/0x1c0 [ 59.881430] ? __pfx_ni_insert_resident+0x10/0x10 [ 59.886355] ? kasan_save_alloc_info+0x1f/0x30 [ 59.891117] ? __kasan_kmalloc+0x8b/0xa0 [ 59.894383] ntfs_set_ea+0x90d/0xbf0 [ 59.897703] ? __pfx_ntfs_set_ea+0x10/0x10 [ 59.901011] ? kernel_text_address+0xd3/0xe0 [ 59.905308] ? __kernel_text_address+0x16/0x50 [ 59.909811] ? unwind_get_return_address+0x3e/0x60 [ 59.914898] ? __pfx_stack_trace_consume_entry+0x10/0x10 [ 59.920250] ? arch_stack_walk+0xa2/0x100 [ 59.924560] ? filter_irq_stacks+0x27/0x80 [ 59.928722] ntfs_setxattr+0x405/0x440 [ 59.932512] ? __pfx_ntfs_setxattr+0x10/0x10 [ 59.936634] ? kvmalloc_node+0x2d/0x120 [ 59.940378] ? kasan_save_stack+0x41/0x60 [ 59.943870] ? kasan_save_stack+0x2a/0x60 [ 59.947719] ? kasan_set_track+0x29/0x40 [ 59.951417] ? kasan_save_alloc_info+0x1f/0x30 [ 59.955733] ? __kasan_kmalloc+0x8b/0xa0 [ 59.959598] ? __kmalloc_node+0x68/0x150 [ 59.963163] ? kvmalloc_node+0x2d/0x120 [ 59.966490] ? vmemdup_user+0x2b/0xa0 ---truncated---
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Introduced | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:11 | linux | 0 | No fix |
| Debian:12 | linux | 0 | 6.1.52-1 |
| Debian:13 | linux | 0 | 6.5.3-1 |
| Debian:14 | linux | 0 | 6.5.3-1 |
| Linux | Kernel | 5.15.0 | 5.15.128 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP6 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.53.22.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6-RT_Update_16 | 0 | 1-150600.1.3.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6_Update_16 | 0 | 1-150600.13.3.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.53.22.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_6 | 0 | 1-150700.15.3.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 | kernel-64kb | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 | kernel-default-base | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1.150600.12.32.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 | kernel-source | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 | kernel-zfcpdump | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | kernel-64kb | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.53.22.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.53.22.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | kernel-default-base | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.53.22.1.150700.17.15.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | kernel-source | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.53.22.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | kernel-zfcpdump | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.53.22.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 | kernel-docs | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 | kernel-obs-build | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 | kernel-source | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 | kernel-syms | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | kernel-docs | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.53.22.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | kernel-obs-build | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.53.22.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | kernel-source | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.53.22.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | kernel-syms | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.53.22.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP6 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP7 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.53.22.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6 | kernel-azure | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.8.52.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6 | kernel-source-azure | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.8.52.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6 | kernel-syms-azure | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.8.52.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP7 | kernel-azure | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.20.18.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP7 | kernel-source-azure | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.20.18.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP7 | kernel-syms-azure | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.20.18.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP6 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150700.53.22.1 |
| SUSE:Real Time Module 15 SP6 | kernel-rt | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.10.55.1 |
| SUSE:Real Time Module 15 SP6 | kernel-rt_debug | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.10.55.1 |
| SUSE:Real Time Module 15 SP6 | kernel-source-rt | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.10.55.1 |
| SUSE:Real Time Module 15 SP6 | kernel-syms-rt | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.10.55.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | dtb-aarch64 | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-64kb | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-azure | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.8.52.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-debug | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-default-base | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1.150600.12.32.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-docs | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-kvmsmall | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-obs-build | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-obs-qa | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-rt | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.10.55.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-rt_debug | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.10.55.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-source | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-source-azure | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.8.52.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-source-rt | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.10.55.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-syms | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-syms-azure | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.8.52.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-syms-rt | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.10.55.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-zfcpdump | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.73.1 |
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