CVE-2023-53993

Kernel memory exhaustion via undestroyed PCI/DOE work structures

Published Dec 24, 2025 · Updated Dec 24, 2025

Memory leak in Linux PCI/DOE 6.0 through 6.1.23 and 6.2 through 6.2.10 allows local users to exhaust kernel memory. The PCI/DOE completion path leaves each pci_doe_task work_struct undestroyed after the task ends, retaining debug-object tracking state. Exposure requires CONFIG_DEBUG_OBJECTS=y and local low-privileged access; the documented consequence is availability loss without data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.19%
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 PCI/DOE 6.0 through 6.1.23 and 6.2 through 6.2.10 allows local users to exhaust kernel memory. The PCI/DOE completion path leaves each pci_doe_task work_struct undestroyed after the task ends, retaining debug-object tracking state. Exposure requires CONFIG_DEBUG_OBJECTS=y and local low-privileged access; the documented consequence is availability loss without data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53993
Published
Dec 24, 2025
Updated
Dec 24, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 24, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 24, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

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=9d24322e887b6a3d3f9f9c3e76937a646102c8c1 <2a0e0f4773fe8032fb17e56f897bee32ce3cdc2b
  3. Affected versionversion=9d24322e887b6a3d3f9f9c3e76937a646102c8c1 <95628b830952943631d3d74f73f431f501c5d6f5
  4. Affected versionversion=9d24322e887b6a3d3f9f9c3e76937a646102c8c1 <abf04be0e7071f2bcd39bf97ba407e7d4439785e

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.0; version=9d24322e887b6a3d3f9f9c3e76937a646102c8c1 <2a0e0f4773fe8032fb17e56f897bee32ce3cdc2b; version=9d24322e887b6a3d3f9f9c3e76937a646102c8c1 <95628b830952943631d3d74f73f431f501c5d6f5; version=9d24322e887b6a3d3f9f9c3e76937a646102c8c1 <abf04be0e7071f2bcd39bf97ba407e7d4439785e

Published CVSS scores

5.5SUSECVSS: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

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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