CVE-2023-52670

Kernel memory leak via rpmsg device removal

Published May 17, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

Memory leak in Linux kernel rpmsg virtio support allows physically proximate attackers to consume kernel memory through device removal. The rpmsg_probe path allocates driver_override through driver_set_override, but rpmsg_remove omits the corresponding free when the device is removed. Exploitation requires physical access, user interaction, and a removable rpmsg virtio device; repeated probe-and-remove cycles retain 128-byte allocations and can degrade service.

CVSS severity6.6
Medium
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory leak in Linux kernel rpmsg virtio support allows physically proximate attackers to consume kernel memory through device removal. The rpmsg_probe path allocates driver_override through driver_set_override, but rpmsg_remove omits the corresponding free when the device is removed. Exploitation requires physical access, user interaction, and a removable rpmsg virtio device; repeated probe-and-remove cycles retain 128-byte allocations and can degrade service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52670
Published
May 17, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-401, T1499
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 17, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.13
  2. Affected versionversion=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <229ce47cbfdc7d3a9415eb676abbfb77d676cb08
  3. Affected versionversion=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <2d27a7b19cb354c6d04bcdc9239e261ff29858d6
  4. Affected versionversion=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <4e6cef3fae5c164968118a13f3fe293700adc81a
  5. Affected versionversion=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <69ca89d80f2c8a1f5af429b955637beea7eead30
  6. Affected versionversion=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <9a416d624e5fb7246ea97c11fbfea7e0e27abf43
  7. Affected versionversion=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <d5362c37e1f8a40096452fc201c30e705750e687
  8. Affected versionversion=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <dd50fe18c234bd5ff22f658f4d414e8fa8cd6a5d
  9. Affected versionversion=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <f4bb1d5daf77b1a95a43277268adf0d1430c2346

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.13; version=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <229ce47cbfdc7d3a9415eb676abbfb77d676cb08; version=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <2d27a7b19cb354c6d04bcdc9239e261ff29858d6; version=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <4e6cef3fae5c164968118a13f3fe293700adc81a; version=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <69ca89d80f2c8a1f5af429b955637beea7eead30; version=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <9a416d624e5fb7246ea97c11fbfea7e0e27abf43; version=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <d5362c37e1f8a40096452fc201c30e705750e687; version=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <dd50fe18c234bd5ff22f658f4d414e8fa8cd6a5d; version=b0b03b8119633de0649da9bd506e4850c401ff2b <f4bb1d5daf77b1a95a43277268adf0d1430c2346
The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=4.13; version=b0b03b811963 <229ce47cbfdc; version=b0b03b811963 <2d27a7b19cb3; version=b0b03b811963 <4e6cef3fae5c; version=b0b03b811963 <69ca89d80f2c; version=b0b03b811963 <9a416d624e5f; version=b0b03b811963 <d5362c37e1f8; version=b0b03b811963 <dd50fe18c234; version=b0b03b811963 <f4bb1d5daf77

Published CVSS scores

6.6CISA ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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