UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53503

Advisory lineage Upstream: 1 Downstream: 0
Upstream
Published: 01 Oct 2025, 12:15
Last modified:03 Jun 2026, 13:37

Vulnerability Summary

Overall Risk (default)
low
22/100
CVSS Score
5.5 MEDIUM
3.1 (osv_ubuntu)
EPSS Score
No data
KEV
Not listed
Ransomware
No reports
Public exploits
None found
Dark Web
Not detected

Timeline

01 Oct 2025, 12:15
Published
Vulnerability first disclosed
03 Jun 2026, 13:37
Last Modified
Vulnerability information updated

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: allow ext4_get_group_info() to fail Previously, ext4_get_group_info() would treat an invalid group number as BUG(), since in theory it should never happen. However, if a malicious attaker (or fuzzer) modifies the superblock via the block device while it is the file system is mounted, it is possible for s_first_data_block to get set to a very large number. In that case, when calculating the block group of some block number (such as the starting block of a preallocation region), could result in an underflow and very large block group number. Then the BUG_ON check in ext4_get_group_info() would fire, resutling in a denial of service attack that can be triggered by root or someone with write access to the block device. For a quality of implementation perspective, it's best that even if the system administrator does something that they shouldn't, that it will not trigger a BUG. So instead of BUG'ing, ext4_get_group_info() will call ext4_error and return NULL. We also add fallback code in all of the callers of ext4_get_group_info() that it might NULL. Also, since ext4_get_group_info() was already borderline to be an inline function, un-inline it. The results in a next reduction of the compiled text size of ext4 by roughly 2k.

CVSS Metrics

  • v3.1MEDIUMScore: 5.5CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected Systems

  • ubuntulinux

    all | < 5.15.0-83.92

  • ubuntulinux-allwinner-5.19

    all

  • ubuntulinux-aws

    all | < 5.15.0-1044.49

  • ubuntulinux-aws-5.0

    all

  • ubuntulinux-aws-5.11

    all

  • ubuntulinux-aws-5.13

    all

  • ubuntulinux-aws-5.15

    < 5.15.0-1044.49~20.04.1

  • ubuntulinux-aws-5.19

    all

  • ubuntulinux-aws-5.3

    all

  • ubuntulinux-aws-5.4

    all

  • ubuntulinux-aws-5.8

    all

  • ubuntulinux-aws-6.2

    all

  • ubuntulinux-aws-6.5

    all

  • ubuntulinux-aws-fips

    all

  • ubuntulinux-aws-hwe

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure

    all | all | < 5.15.0-1046.53

  • ubuntulinux-azure-4.15

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-5.11

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-5.13

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-5.15

    < 5.15.0-1046.53~20.04.1

  • ubuntulinux-azure-5.19

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-5.3

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-5.4

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-5.8

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-6.11

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-6.2

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-6.5

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-edge

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-fde

    all | all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-fde-5.15

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-fde-5.19

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-fde-6.2

    all

  • ubuntulinux-azure-fips

    all

  • ubuntulinux-bluefield

    < 5.15.0-1023.25 | all | < 5.15.0-1023.25 | all

  • ubuntulinux-fips

    all

  • ubuntulinux-gcp

    all | all | < 5.15.0-1041.49

  • ubuntulinux-gcp-4.15

    all

  • ubuntulinux-gcp-5.11

    all

  • ubuntulinux-gcp-5.13

    all

  • ubuntulinux-gcp-5.15

    < 5.15.0-1041.49~20.04.1

  • ubuntulinux-gcp-5.19

    all

  • ubuntulinux-gcp-5.3

    all

  • ubuntulinux-gcp-5.4

    all

  • ubuntulinux-gcp-5.8

    all

  • ubuntulinux-gcp-6.11

    all

  • ubuntulinux-gcp-6.2

    all

  • ubuntulinux-gcp-6.5

    all

  • ubuntulinux-gcp-fips

    all

  • ubuntulinux-gke

    all | < 5.15.0-1041.46

  • ubuntulinux-gke-4.15

    all

Showing first 50 affected entries in server-rendered view.

References (8)