CVE-2023-53997

Kernel crash via thermal-zone parameter double free

Published Dec 24, 2025 · Updated Dec 24, 2025

Double free in the thermal subsystem of Linux 6.4 through 6.4.7 allows local users to crash the kernel by unregistering a device-tree thermal zone. thermal_of_zone_register() passes a heap copy of tzp to thermal_zone_device_register(), which frees that copy during teardown, then frees the same pointer again. The path requires a system using device-tree thermal zones and local access to trigger driver removal, module unload, device removal, or shutdown; memory corruption is possible, but exploitation beyond denial of service is considered highly unlikely.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Double free in the thermal subsystem of Linux 6.4 through 6.4.7 allows local users to crash the kernel by unregistering a device-tree thermal zone. thermal_of_zone_register() passes a heap copy of tzp to thermal_zone_device_register(), which frees that copy during teardown, then frees the same pointer again. The path requires a system using device-tree thermal zones and local access to trigger driver removal, module unload, device removal, or shutdown; memory corruption is possible, but exploitation beyond denial of service is considered highly unlikely.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53997
Published
Dec 24, 2025
Updated
Dec 24, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-1341, T1499.004
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

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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=3d439b1a2ad36c8b4ea151c8de25309d60d17407 <ac4436a5b20e0ef1f608a9ef46c08d5d142f8da6
  2. Affected versionversion=3d439b1a2ad36c8b4ea151c8de25309d60d17407 <adce49089412a9ae28f5c666e0bb12fbcd86b3f7
  3. Affected versionversion=6.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3d439b1a2ad36c8b4ea151c8de25309d60d17407 <ac4436a5b20e0ef1f608a9ef46c08d5d142f8da6; version=3d439b1a2ad36c8b4ea151c8de25309d60d17407 <adce49089412a9ae28f5c666e0bb12fbcd86b3f7; version=6.4

Published CVSS scores

7.8LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5Red HatCVSS: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-1341Multiple Releases of Same Resource or Handle
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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