CVE-2023-53546

Kernel memory exhaustion via unreleased command buffer

Published Oct 4, 2025 · Updated Oct 4, 2025

A memory leak in the Linux kernel mlx5 direct-rules driver allows local users to exhaust kernel memory by provoking a failed firmware command. The mlx5dr_cmd_create_reformat_ctx function returns when mlx5_cmd_exec fails without freeing its kvzalloc-allocated input buffer. Reachability requires local low-privilege access to a kernel with mlx5 software-managed steering and compatible hardware; repeated failures degrade availability through memory exhaustion.

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

A memory leak in the Linux kernel mlx5 direct-rules driver allows local users to exhaust kernel memory by provoking a failed firmware command. The mlx5dr_cmd_create_reformat_ctx function returns when mlx5_cmd_exec fails without freeing its kvzalloc-allocated input buffer. Reachability requires local low-privilege access to a kernel with mlx5 software-managed steering and compatible hardware; repeated failures degrade availability through memory exhaustion.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53546
Published
Oct 4, 2025
Updated
Oct 4, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-401, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 4, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 4, 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=1d9186476e12c85dc81a0f01f5c614a9683af7f2 <00cecb0a8f9e7a21754d5ad85813ab6b47b3308f
  2. Affected versionversion=1d9186476e12c85dc81a0f01f5c614a9683af7f2 <165159854757dbae0dfd1812b27051da35aa6223
  3. Affected versionversion=1d9186476e12c85dc81a0f01f5c614a9683af7f2 <3169c3854397f3070a63b1b772db16dcb8cba7b4
  4. Affected versionversion=1d9186476e12c85dc81a0f01f5c614a9683af7f2 <5dd77585dd9d0e03dd1bceb95f0269a7eaf6b936
  5. Affected versionversion=1d9186476e12c85dc81a0f01f5c614a9683af7f2 <622d71d99124e69f7bf2e2b7a89f5f444a24d235
  6. Affected versionversion=1d9186476e12c85dc81a0f01f5c614a9683af7f2 <800d8c96bf997da5eb76ccf8d88795c4231c83fb
  7. Affected versionversion=5.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1d9186476e12c85dc81a0f01f5c614a9683af7f2 <00cecb0a8f9e7a21754d5ad85813ab6b47b3308f; version=1d9186476e12c85dc81a0f01f5c614a9683af7f2 <165159854757dbae0dfd1812b27051da35aa6223; version=1d9186476e12c85dc81a0f01f5c614a9683af7f2 <3169c3854397f3070a63b1b772db16dcb8cba7b4; version=1d9186476e12c85dc81a0f01f5c614a9683af7f2 <5dd77585dd9d0e03dd1bceb95f0269a7eaf6b936; version=1d9186476e12c85dc81a0f01f5c614a9683af7f2 <622d71d99124e69f7bf2e2b7a89f5f444a24d235; version=1d9186476e12c85dc81a0f01f5c614a9683af7f2 <800d8c96bf997da5eb76ccf8d88795c4231c83fb; version=5.4

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS: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.

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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