CVE-2023-54171

Kernel memory leak via trace_pipe cleanup omission

Published Dec 30, 2025 · Updated Dec 30, 2025

Memory leak in Linux kernel tracing allows local users with trace_pipe access to retain kernel memory after closing the file. trace_find_next_entry allocates or reallocates iter->temp while serving trace_pipe, but tracing_release_pipe omits the corresponding free. Access is local and depends on tracefs permissions; repeated read-and-close cycles accumulate unreclaimed allocations, with no reported data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.20%
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 kernel tracing allows local users with trace_pipe access to retain kernel memory after closing the file. trace_find_next_entry allocates or reallocates iter->temp while serving trace_pipe, but tracing_release_pipe omits the corresponding free. Access is local and depends on tracefs permissions; repeated read-and-close cycles accumulate unreclaimed allocations, with no reported data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54171
Published
Dec 30, 2025
Updated
Dec 30, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 30, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 30, 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=5.7
  2. Affected versionversion=ff895103a84abc85a5f43ecabc7f67cf36e1348f <1a1e793e021d75cd0accd8f329ec9456e5cd105e
  3. Affected versionversion=ff895103a84abc85a5f43ecabc7f67cf36e1348f <3f42d57a76e7e96585f08855554e002218cbca0c
  4. Affected versionversion=ff895103a84abc85a5f43ecabc7f67cf36e1348f <954792db9f61b6c0b8a94b8831fed5f146014029
  5. Affected versionversion=ff895103a84abc85a5f43ecabc7f67cf36e1348f <be970e22c53d5572b2795b79da9716ada937023b
  6. Affected versionversion=ff895103a84abc85a5f43ecabc7f67cf36e1348f <d5a821896360cc8b93a15bd888fabc858c038dc0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.7; version=ff895103a84abc85a5f43ecabc7f67cf36e1348f <1a1e793e021d75cd0accd8f329ec9456e5cd105e; version=ff895103a84abc85a5f43ecabc7f67cf36e1348f <3f42d57a76e7e96585f08855554e002218cbca0c; version=ff895103a84abc85a5f43ecabc7f67cf36e1348f <954792db9f61b6c0b8a94b8831fed5f146014029; version=ff895103a84abc85a5f43ecabc7f67cf36e1348f <be970e22c53d5572b2795b79da9716ada937023b; version=ff895103a84abc85a5f43ecabc7f67cf36e1348f <d5a821896360cc8b93a15bd888fabc858c038dc0

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

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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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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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