Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-6536

Memory Safety in Linux Kernel 5.0 – 5.4.268

Memory Safety
Published
07 February 2024
Modified
04 November 2025
CVSS Score v3.1 6.5
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
EPSS Score 0.015 72th percentile
Risk Priority 35 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-6536 is a medium-severity NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476) vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel. Its CVSS base score is 6.5 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Application or System Exploitation (T1499.004); ranked in the top 28% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; 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

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's NVMe driver. This issue may allow an unauthenticated malicious actor to send a set of crafted TCP packages when using NVMe over TCP, leading the NVMe driver to a NULL pointer dereference…

more

in the NVMe driver, causing kernel panic and a denial of service.

CWE(s)
CWE-476

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1499.004 Application or System Exploitation Impact
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities that can cause an application or system to crash and deny availability to users.
attack.mitre.org →
Why these techniques?

CVE-2023-6536 allows unauthenticated remote attackers to trigger a NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel's NVMe-over-TCP driver via crafted TCP packets, causing a kernel panic and denial of service, which maps to endpoint DoS via application/system exploitation.

MITRE ATLAS TechniquesAI

MITRE ATLAS techniques

AML.T0048: External Harms

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-6356Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2023-6535Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2023-6915Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2024-2496Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2023-6622Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2023-6176Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2024-7006Same product: Redhat Enterprise Linux
CVE-2023-3772Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2026-23353Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2026-31481Same product: Linux Linux Kernel

Affected Assets

linux
linux kernel
5.0 — 5.4.268 · 5.5 — 5.10.209 · 5.11 — 5.15.148
redhat
codeready linux builder eus
8.6, 9.2
redhat
codeready linux builder eus for power little endian eus
8.6_ppc64le, 9.2_ppc64le
redhat
codeready linux builder for arm64 eus
8.6_aarch64, 9.2_aarch64
redhat
codeready linux builder for ibm z systems eus
9.2_s390x
redhat
enterprise linux
8.0, 9.0
redhat
enterprise linux eus
8.6, 9.2
redhat
enterprise linux for arm 64 eus
8.6_aarch64, 9.2_aarch64
redhat
enterprise linux for ibm z systems eus
8.6_s390x, 9.2_s390x
redhat
enterprise linux for power little endian eus
8.6_ppc64le, 9.2_ppc64le
+7 more product configuration(s) — see NVD for full list

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 (static analysis, code review, safe coding standards) directly prevent NULL dereference bugs during development.

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
detects

Security testing can detect NULL dereference defects before release.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure SDLC mandates defensive coding practices that can prevent NULL dereferences.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements can specify input validation and pointer-safety rules.

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

Secure architecture principles encourage defensive design that avoids unsafe pointer use.

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

Secure coding standards directly require NULL-pointer checks and safe dereference patterns.

References