CVE-2023-53852

Kernel memory leak via repeated DH-CHAP writes

Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

A memory leak in the Linux kernel NVMe host core allows local users to consume unreclaimed memory through repeated DH-CHAP secret writes. In nvme_ctrl_dhchap_secret_store(), an unchanged secret takes the equality path after a new buffer is allocated, but that buffer is returned without being freed. The write target is an owner-writable controller sysfs attribute, so reachability requires local permission to modify it; each matching write leaks another secret buffer.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.23%
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 NVMe host core allows local users to consume unreclaimed memory through repeated DH-CHAP secret writes. In nvme_ctrl_dhchap_secret_store(), an unchanged secret takes the equality path after a new buffer is allocated, but that buffer is returned without being freed. The write target is an owner-writable controller sysfs attribute, so reachability requires local permission to modify it; each matching write leaks another secret buffer.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53852
Published
Dec 9, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 9, 2025CVE 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=6.0
  2. Affected versionversion=f50fff73d620cd6e8f48bc58d4f1c944615a3fea <2e9b141307554521d60fecf6bf1d2edc8dd0181d
  3. Affected versionversion=f50fff73d620cd6e8f48bc58d4f1c944615a3fea <6a5eda5017959541ab82c5d56bcf784b8294e298
  4. Affected versionversion=f50fff73d620cd6e8f48bc58d4f1c944615a3fea <a836ca33c5b07d34dd5347af9f64d25651d12674
  5. Affected versionversion=f50fff73d620cd6e8f48bc58d4f1c944615a3fea <c41ac086d2abaf7527a5685f9c0a1c209ab7e0aa

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.0; version=f50fff73d620cd6e8f48bc58d4f1c944615a3fea <2e9b141307554521d60fecf6bf1d2edc8dd0181d; version=f50fff73d620cd6e8f48bc58d4f1c944615a3fea <6a5eda5017959541ab82c5d56bcf784b8294e298; version=f50fff73d620cd6e8f48bc58d4f1c944615a3fea <a836ca33c5b07d34dd5347af9f64d25651d12674; version=f50fff73d620cd6e8f48bc58d4f1c944615a3fea <c41ac086d2abaf7527a5685f9c0a1c209ab7e0aa

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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