CVE-2023-5633 | Kernel: vmwgfx: reference count issue leads to use-after-free in surface handling

The reference count changes made as part of the CVE-2023-33951 and CVE-2023-33952 fixes exposed a use-after-free flaw in the way memory objects were handled when they were being used to store a surface. When running inside a VMware guest with 3D acceleration enabled, a local, unprivileged user could potentially use this flaw to escalate their privileges.

Published: 2023-10-23 Last update: 2026-06-17 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]
NVD Status：Modified，CVE State: published
View at NVD, CVE.org, EUVD

CVE-2023-5633 is rated Low Risk (38.4/100): CVSS High severity, with low exploitation likelihood (EPSS 0.28%). Monitor for updates and reassess as exploit intelligence or EPSS changes.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2023-5633

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-06-15 0.02% 0.28% +0.27%
2 2025-11-21 0.07% 0.02% -0.05%
3 2025-11-18 — 0.07% —

Full EPSS history (9 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2023-5633

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
7.8 3.1 HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:L)
They already need access on the box, or another person has to do something wrong; it’s not a remote drive-by.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:L)
A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
 1.8 5.9 [email protected]
7.8 3.1 HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:L)
They already need access on the box, or another person has to do something wrong; it’s not a remote drive-by.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:L)
A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
 1.8 5.9 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2023-5633

OS Trackers for CVE-2023-5633

vendor priority summary link
debian unimportant CVE-2023-5633 unimportant priority: Debian including 1 source packages (linux), 5 status rows across 5 suites (bookworm, bullseye, forky, sid, trixie): resolved 5. https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2023-5633
redhat high — https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-5633
suse high — https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-5633/
ubuntu high CVE-2023-5633 high priority: Ubuntu including 130 source packages (linux, linux-allwinner, …), 1142 status rows across 9 suites (bionic, focal, jammy, lunar, mantic, noble, trusty, upstream, xenial): DNE 804, ignored 140, not-affected 105, released 93. https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-5633

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2023-5633

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
linux linux_kernel >= 6.1.13, < 6.1.75 cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
linux linux_kernel >= 6.2, < 6.5.8 cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
linux linux_kernel 6.6 cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.6:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
linux linux_kernel 6.6 cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.6:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
linux linux_kernel 6.6 cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.6:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
linux linux_kernel 6.6 cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.6:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
linux linux_kernel 6.6 cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.6:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
linux linux_kernel 6.6 cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.6:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder 8.0 cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder 9.0 cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_eus 8.8 cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_eus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_eus 9.2 cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_eus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_eus 9.4 cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_eus:9.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_for_arm64 8.0_aarch64 cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_for_arm64:8.0_aarch64:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_for_arm64 9.0_aarch64 cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_for_arm64:9.0_aarch64:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_for_arm64_eus 8.8_aarch64 cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_for_arm64_eus:8.8_aarch64:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_for_arm64_eus 9.2_aarch64 cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_for_arm64_eus:9.2_aarch64:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_for_arm64_eus 9.4_aarch64 cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_for_arm64_eus:9.4_aarch64:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_for_ibm_z_systems 9.0_s390x cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_for_ibm_z_systems:9.0_s390x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_for_ibm_z_systems_eus 9.2_s390x cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:9.2_s390x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_for_ibm_z_systems_eus 9.4_s390x cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:9.4_s390x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_for_power_little_endian 8.0_ppc64le cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_for_power_little_endian:8.0_ppc64le:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_for_power_little_endian 9.0_ppc64le cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_for_power_little_endian:9.0_ppc64le:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_for_power_little_endian_eus 8.8_ppc64le cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_for_power_little_endian_eus:8.8_ppc64le:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_for_power_little_endian_eus 9.2_ppc64le cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_for_power_little_endian_eus:9.2_ppc64le:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat codeready_linux_builder_for_power_little_endian_eus 9.4_ppc64le cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder_for_power_little_endian_eus:9.4_ppc64le:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux 8.0 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux 9.0 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_eus 8.8 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_eus 9.2 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_eus 9.4 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:9.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_arm_64 8.0_aarch64 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64:8.0_aarch64:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_arm_64 9.0_aarch64 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64:9.0_aarch64:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus 8.8_aarch64 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus:8.8_aarch64:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus 9.2_aarch64 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus:9.2_aarch64:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus 9.4_aarch64 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus:9.4_aarch64:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems 8.0_s390x cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:8.0_s390x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems 9.0_s390x cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:9.0_s390x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus 8.8_s390x cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:8.8_s390x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus 9.2_s390x cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:9.2_s390x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus 9.4_s390x cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:9.4_s390x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian 8.0_ppc64le cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:8.0_ppc64le:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian 9.0_ppc64le cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:9.0_ppc64le:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus 9.2_ppc64le cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:9.2_ppc64le:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus 9.4_ppc64le cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:9.4_ppc64le:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_real_time 8.0 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_real_time 9.0 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_real_time_for_nfv 8.0 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time_for_nfv:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_for_real_time_for_nfv 9.0 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time_for_nfv:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_server_aus 9.2 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_server_aus 9.4 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:9.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions 8.8 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions 9.2_ppc64le cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:9.2_ppc64le:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
redhat enterprise_linux_server_tus 8.8 cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2023-5633

cvelogic Threat Intelligence