---
id: CVE-2023-2235
title: >-
  A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux Kernel Performance Events system
  can be exploited to achieve local privilege escalation.




  The perf_group_detach function did not check the event's siblings'
  attach_state before calling add_ev…
summary: >-
  A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux Kernel Performance Events system
  can be exploited to achieve local privilege escalation.




  The perf_group_detach function did not check the event's siblings'
  attach_state before calling add_ev…
severity: high
cvss: 7.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-416
  - CWE-416
vendor: linux
product: linux_kernel
affected:
  - 'linux_kernel >= 5.13, < 5.15.104'
  - 'linux_kernel >= 5.16, < 6.1.21'
  - 'linux_kernel >= 6.2, < 6.2.8'
patched:
  - linux_kernel 6.2.8
published: '2023-05-01'
updated: '2026-08-07'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2235'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=fd0815f632c24878e325821943edccc7fde947a2
    label: cve-coordination@google.com
  - url: 'https://kernel.dance/fd0815f632c24878e325821943edccc7fde947a2'
    label: cve-coordination@google.com
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=fd0815f632c24878e325821943edccc7fde947a2
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://kernel.dance/fd0815f632c24878e325821943edccc7fde947a2'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230609-0002/'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
tags:
  - nvd
epss: 0.00248
epssPercentile: 0.16435
ingestedAt: '2026-08-07T20:16:40.356Z'
---

## Overview

A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux Kernel Performance Events system can be exploited to achieve local privilege escalation.



The perf_group_detach function did not check the event's siblings' attach_state before calling add_event_to_groups(), but remove_on_exec made it possible to call list_del_event() on before detaching from their group, making it possible to use a dangling pointer causing a use-after-free vulnerability.



We recommend upgrading past commit fd0815f632c24878e325821943edccc7fde947a2.

## Affected

- `linux_kernel >= 5.13, < 5.15.104`
- `linux_kernel >= 5.16, < 6.1.21`
- `linux_kernel >= 6.2, < 6.2.8`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `linux_kernel 6.2.8`