Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-23003

Linux Kernel ≤ 5.16

Published
01 March 2023
Modified
20 March 2025
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 4.0
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0027 19th percentile
Risk Priority 32 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-23003 is a medium-severity Unchecked Return Value (CWE-252) vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel. Its CVSS base score is 4.0 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked at the 19th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

A10:2025 Mishandling of Exceptional Conditions

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

In the Linux kernel before 5.16, tools/perf/util/expr.c lacks a check for the hashmap__new return value.

CWE(s)
CWE-252

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
attack.mitre.org →
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
attack.mitre.org →
T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may exploit remote services to gain unauthorized access to internal systems once inside of a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access Credential Access
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-52687Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2026-23301Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2023-52797Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2024-42067Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2023-52680Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2023-52692Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2024-42068Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2023-53070Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2024-39492Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2025-22026Same product: Linux Linux Kernel

Affected Assets

linux
linux kernel
≤ 5.16

Mitigating Controls

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.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly require checking and handling all function return values to detect error conditions.

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.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
finds

Security testing in development and acceptance can detect missing return-value checks.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure development life cycle mandates verification of return values to prevent undetected failures.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements include input/output validation and error handling that covers return-value checks.

A.8.27 Secure system architecture and engineering principles partial match
degrades

Secure system architecture and engineering principles require robust error handling and defensive coding practices.

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

Secure coding explicitly requires checking return values to avoid CWE-252.

References