CVE-2023-0386: Linux Kernel exploited

Advisory generated from the CVE record, CISA, Exploit Observer and VEDAS: what it is, whether it is exploited, who is affected, and how to fix and detect it.

What it is

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel, where unauthorized access to the execution of the setuid file with capabilities was found in the Linux kernel’s OverlayFS subsystem in how a user copies a capable file from a nosuid mount into another mount. This uid mapping bug allows a local user to escalate their privileges on the system.

Description quoted from the CVE record (assigned by redhat, published 2023-03-22).

Weakness: CWE-282

How it can be exploited

Exploitable with local access with low attack complexity needing low privileges and no user interaction. Impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability high. CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA assessment (SSVC): CISA assesses exploitation as active. Automatable: no. Technical impact: total.

On CISA KEV since: 2025-06-17
US federal deadline: 2025-07-08
Ransomware use: Not known

Public exploit evidence (Exploit Observer)

Also known as: BDU:2023-01572, CNNVD-202303-1798, EUVD-2023-12447, GHSA-p72q-v88c-rprq, SNYK-ALMALINUX8-KERNELDEBUGMODULESEXTRA-5611833, SNYK-ROCKY8-KERNELMODULES-5416015

VEDAS cluster: VEDAS:AQUACOBRA

Exploit Observer links 17 pieces of public exploit code or detection modules that name this CVE or one of its aliases.

Exploit code and modules (17)

Code that names this CVE. A repository can be a working exploit, a scanner, a fake or malware; read it before running anything.

Metasploit module: https://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/linux/local/cve_2023_0386_overlayfs_priv_esc/
Code repository: https://github.com/Fanxiaoyao66/CVE-2023-0386?search=1
Code repository: https://github.com/aik1d/cve-2023-0386
Code repository: https://github.com/bchevch/cve-2023-0386
Code repository: https://github.com/churamanib/cve-2023-0386
Code repository: https://github.com/dragosbanica/cve-2023-0386_poc
Code repository: https://github.com/estamelgg/cve-2023-0386-libs
Code repository: https://github.com/hshivhare67/kernel_v4.19.72_cve-2023-0386
Code repository: https://github.com/huovnn/cve-2023-0386-go-poc
Code repository: https://github.com/julianertle/cve-2023-0386-ctf
Code repository: https://github.com/letsr00t/cve-2023-0386
Code repository: https://github.com/orilevy8/cve-2023-0386
and 5 more

Research and write-ups (1)

Research or write-up: https://securitylabs.datadoghq.com/articles/overlayfs-cve-2023-0386

Vulnerability databases and vendor advisories (15)

Catalogue entries, not exploit evidence.

Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2023-0386
Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/enisa/EUVD-2023-12447
Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-p72q-v88c-rprq
Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://linux.oracle.com/cve/CVE-2023-0386.html
Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-0386
Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/UBUNTU-CVE-2023-0386
Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2023-0386
Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-ALMALINUX8-KERNELDEBUGMODULESEXTRA-5611833
Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-ROCKY8-KERNELMODULES-5416015
Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-0386
Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-0386
Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cnnvd.org.cn/home/globalSearch?keyword=CNNVD-202303-1798
and 3 more

726 more references returned by Exploit Observer did not name this CVE or an alias, so they are left out.

VEDAS data as of 2026-11-01T17:12 UTC; fetched 2026-11-02.

Live scores

EPSS: 0.079
some chance of attack soon
VEDAS: 0.985
strong exploit evidence
On CISA KEV: Yes, since 2025-06-17
Detection rule: Out of scope (local)

EPSS (chance of attack)

VEDAS (exploit evidence)

Thin horizontal line: the “likely” (EPSS 0.10) or “strong” (VEDAS 0.90) threshold. Shaded “no data” areas are periods when cve-scores did not publish. The vertical line is the day CISA added it to its exploited list.

Who is affected

Product	Affected	Not affected
Kernel	version Linux kernel 6.2-rc6	Not stated

Version ranges exactly as the CVE record states them. “Before X” means X is the first fixed version.

Exploit Observer also maps it to: linux linux_kernel, ооо_«ред_софт» ред_ос.

How to fix it

CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Vendor guidance:

DSA-5402 (vendor-advisory)

How to detect it

This bug needs local access to exploit. VEDAS signatures cover remotely exploitable bugs for now, so there is no network rule or remote check for it. Patch it and watch your endpoint telemetry for unusual local activity.

Advisories on this CVE

Windows / Linux kernel 2025 KEV highlights (5 Feb 2025)

References

Vendor advisories and patches

DSA-5402 (vendor-advisory)

Government sources

https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-0386 (government-resource)

Other references

Other databases

Where this comes from

This advisory is generated automatically by VEDAS from: CVE.org record, CISA KEV, cve-scores (EPSS and VEDAS), Exploit Observer. Text in quotes is reproduced from the source; everything else is a fixed template filled with source fields. Nothing here is written by a language model. Check the vendor advisory before acting, and read how VEDAS and Exploit Observer work, and their limits.

CVE-2023-0386: Linux Kernel Improper Ownership Management Vulnerability