CVE-2023-53371 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 09/18/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net/mlx5e: fix memory leak in mlx5e_fs_tt_redirect_any_create
The memory pointed to by the fs->any pointer is not freed in the error path of mlx5e_fs_tt_redirect_any_create, which can lead to a memory leak. Fix by freeing the memory in the error path, thereby making the error path identical to mlx5e_fs_tt_redirect_any_destroy().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-53371 represents a memory leak in the Linux kernel's mlx5e network driver component that specifically affects Mellanox ConnectX family of network adapters. This issue resides within the mlx5e_fs_tt_redirect_any_create function where proper memory management practices are not consistently applied during error handling scenarios. The flaw manifests when the fs->any pointer memory is allocated but not subsequently freed during error paths, creating a persistent memory allocation that cannot be reclaimed by the system's memory management subsystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from an inconsistent error handling pattern within the mlx5e driver's flow steering functionality. When the mlx5e_fs_tt_redirect_any_create function encounters an error condition during the creation of flow steering table entries, it fails to execute the corresponding memory deallocation routine that would normally occur in the successful completion path. This discrepancy creates a memory leak where the fs->any pointer memory remains allocated even though the overall operation has failed and should have cleaned up all allocated resources.
This memory leak vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the networking subsystem and presents significant operational impact potential for systems running affected Linux kernel versions. The persistent memory allocation can gradually consume system resources over time, potentially leading to system performance degradation, memory exhaustion, or in severe cases, system instability or crashes. The vulnerability affects systems utilizing Mellanox ConnectX network adapters that rely on the mlx5e driver for network functionality, particularly in high-throughput environments where flow steering operations occur frequently.
The fix for CVE-2023-53371 implements a straightforward but critical memory management correction by ensuring that the error path in mlx5e_fs_tt_redirect_any_create performs identical memory cleanup operations as the mlx5e_fs_tt_redirect_any_destroy function. This approach aligns the error handling behavior with the successful completion path, ensuring that all allocated memory is properly freed regardless of the operation's outcome. The remediation follows established kernel development practices for resource management and adheres to the principle of consistent error handling that prevents resource leaks in kernel space operations. This fix directly addresses the root cause by making the error path behavior identical to the cleanup path, thereby eliminating the memory leak condition.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-401, which specifically addresses memory leaks in software systems. The issue represents a classic resource management flaw that can be exploited to degrade system performance or potentially enable denial of service conditions. While the vulnerability itself does not present direct exploitation paths for privilege escalation or remote code execution, it creates conditions that can be leveraged by attackers to consume system resources and potentially destabilize network operations. The remediation process involves updating to kernel versions that include the specific memory management fix, with the vulnerability being addressed through standard kernel security update procedures and patch management protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory consumption issues to affect overall system reliability and network performance in enterprise environments. Organizations running Linux systems with Mellanox network hardware should prioritize patching this vulnerability as part of their regular security maintenance procedures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of consistent error handling patterns in kernel space programming and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of error paths in network driver implementations. This case study exemplifies how seemingly minor memory management oversights in kernel code can have significant operational consequences, particularly in high-performance networking environments where resource utilization directly impacts system throughput and stability.