CVE-2023-53234

Kernel memory leak via omitted device release

Published Sep 15, 2025 · Updated Sep 15, 2025

Memory leak in the Linux kernel watchdog core allows attackers to leave kernel allocations unreleased after failed device registration. The watchdog_cdev_register error path returns after cdev_device_add fails with a nonzero device ID without calling put_device, leaking wd_data and the device name. Reachability requires kernel-level watchdog device registration, and no unprivileged trigger is documented.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.16%
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 the Linux kernel watchdog core allows attackers to leave kernel allocations unreleased after failed device registration. The watchdog_cdev_register error path returns after cdev_device_add fails with a nonzero device ID without calling put_device, leaking wd_data and the device name. Reachability requires kernel-level watchdog device registration, and no unprivileged trigger is documented.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53234
Published
Sep 15, 2025
Updated
Sep 15, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-401
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 15, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 15, 2025Record 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=450caf1faa0d7bbbd1da93d3ee8c5edea7bc51a8 <bf26b0e430ce34261f45959989edaf680b64d538
  2. Affected versionversion=5.5
  3. Affected versionversion=72139dfa2464e43957d330266994740bb7be2535 <13721a2ac66b246f5802ba1b75ad8637e53eeecc
  4. Affected versionversion=72139dfa2464e43957d330266994740bb7be2535 <23cc41c3f19c4d858c3708f1c0a06e94958e6c3b
  5. Affected versionversion=72139dfa2464e43957d330266994740bb7be2535 <50808d034e199fe3ff7a9d2068a4eebeb6b4098a
  6. Affected versionversion=72139dfa2464e43957d330266994740bb7be2535 <ac099d94e0480c937aa9172ab64074981ca1a4d3
  7. Affected versionversion=72139dfa2464e43957d330266994740bb7be2535 <c5a21a5501508ae3afa2fe6d5a3e74a37fa48df3
  8. Affected versionversion=ca7851d46de8a8d69022c4e5feed0820483b5f46 <59e391b3fc507a15b7e8e9d9f4de87cae177c366
  9. Affected versionversion=f4c36f1999745c2160422fe2f362deadbe3a136b <8c1655600f4f2839fb844fe8c70b2b65fadc7a56
  10. Affected versionversion=f76905ce52653e8a821963c35d9013cff19b1399

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=450caf1faa0d7bbbd1da93d3ee8c5edea7bc51a8 <bf26b0e430ce34261f45959989edaf680b64d538; version=5.5; version=72139dfa2464e43957d330266994740bb7be2535 <13721a2ac66b246f5802ba1b75ad8637e53eeecc; version=72139dfa2464e43957d330266994740bb7be2535 <23cc41c3f19c4d858c3708f1c0a06e94958e6c3b; version=72139dfa2464e43957d330266994740bb7be2535 <50808d034e199fe3ff7a9d2068a4eebeb6b4098a; version=72139dfa2464e43957d330266994740bb7be2535 <ac099d94e0480c937aa9172ab64074981ca1a4d3; version=72139dfa2464e43957d330266994740bb7be2535 <c5a21a5501508ae3afa2fe6d5a3e74a37fa48df3; version=ca7851d46de8a8d69022c4e5feed0820483b5f46 <59e391b3fc507a15b7e8e9d9f4de87cae177c366; version=f4c36f1999745c2160422fe2f362deadbe3a136b <8c1655600f4f2839fb844fe8c70b2b65fadc7a56; version=f76905ce52653e8a821963c35d9013cff19b1399

Published CVSS scores

5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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