Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-1637

Linux Kernel 5.18

Published
27 March 2023
Modified
19 February 2025
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 5.5
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
EPSS Score 0.0022 13th percentile
Risk Priority 42 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-1637 is a medium-severity Sensitive Information in Resource Not Removed Before Reuse (CWE-226) vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel. Its CVSS base score is 5.5 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique OS Credential Dumping (T1003); ranked at the 13th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

A flaw that boot CPU could be vulnerable for the speculative execution behavior kind of attacks in the Linux kernel X86 CPU Power management options functionality was found in the way user resuming CPU from suspend-to-RAM. A local user could…

more

use this flaw to potentially get unauthorized access to some memory of the CPU similar to the speculative execution behavior kind of attacks.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1003 OS Credential Dumping Credential Access
Adversaries may attempt to dump credentials to obtain account login and credential material, normally in the form of a hash or a clear text password.
T1552 Unsecured Credentials Credential Access
Adversaries may search compromised systems to find and obtain insecurely stored credentials.
T1552.001 Credentials In Files Credential Access
Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials.
T1552.002 Credentials in Registry Credential Access
Adversaries may search the Registry on compromised systems for insecurely stored credentials.
T1552.004 Private Keys Credential Access
Adversaries may search for private key certificate files on compromised systems for insecurely stored credentials.
T1552.006 Group Policy Preferences Credential Access
Adversaries may attempt to find unsecured credentials in Group Policy Preferences (GPP).
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-3006Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2024-49997Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2024-43881Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2024-36033Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2024-39499Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2023-52700Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2024-36032Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2024-45004Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2024-36912Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2024-26864Same product: Linux Linux Kernel

Affected Assets

linux
linux kernel
5.18

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 9 hardening rules · 4 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V14.2.8
  • V14.3.3
  • V14.3.1

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-212 CWE-226

Eradication of spilled information from contaminated systems mitigates the effects of improper removal of sensitive data before storage or transfer.

addresses: CWE-212 CWE-226

The control requires verified removal of sensitive data before media is made available at a reduced classification level, directly addressing improper removal prior to storage or transfer.

addresses: CWE-212 CWE-226

Retention policies enforce removal or sanitization of sensitive data before storage or transfer per regulatory requirements.

addresses: CWE-212 CWE-226

The explicit requirement to delete inaccurate/outdated PII implements proper removal of sensitive information before further storage or transfer.

addresses: CWE-212 CWE-226

The generate-on-demand-and-delete requirement enforces removal of sensitive information before storage or transfer, preventing improper retention.

addresses: CWE-212 CWE-226

Requires explicit removal of sensitive information prior to component transfer or disposal, reducing exposure from retained data.

addresses: CWE-226

Requiring sanitization of media prior to removal for off-site maintenance ensures sensitive information is removed before the resource is reused or accessed externally.

addresses: CWE-226

Procedures include sanitization, overwriting, and disposal requirements to remove sensitive data before media reuse or release.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.DS-10 full match
prevents

Explicit example calls for removing confidential data (e.g., from process memory) after use, directly preventing reuse of uncleared resources.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

degrades

Explicitly requires secure deletion of information before resources are reused or disposed.

prevents

Data-masking techniques can substitute for removal when full deletion is impractical.

prevents

Mandates secure disposal or re-use of equipment, covering media sanitization but not in-memory reuse.

finds

Security testing can detect failures to sanitize resources before reuse.

prevents

Test-data protection rules require sanitization of production data used in testing.

prevents

Classification identifies sensitive data that must be removed before storage or transfer.

Hardening callouts derived

Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).

Oracle Linux 8 (3 rules)
  • V-248579 OL 8 must restrict access to the kernel message buffer. prevents CWE-212, CWE-226
  • V-248580 OL 8 must prevent kernel profiling by unprivileged users. prevents CWE-212
  • V-248551 A sticky bit must be set on all OL 8 public directories to prevent unauthorized and unintended information transferred via shared system resources. prevents CWE-212
Oracle Linux 9 (1 rule)
  • V-271745 OL 9 must restrict access to the kernel message buffer. prevents CWE-212, CWE-226
RHEL 8 (1 rule)
  • V-230269 RHEL 8 must restrict access to the kernel message buffer. prevents CWE-212, CWE-226
RHEL 9 (1 rule)
  • V-257797 RHEL 9 must restrict access to the kernel message buffer. prevents CWE-226

References