CVE-2023-53650 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/07/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
fbdev: omapfb: lcd_mipid: Fix an error handling path in mipid_spi_probe()
If 'mipid_detect()' fails, we must free 'md' to avoid a memory leak.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2023-53650 represents a memory leak issue within the Linux kernel's framebuffer device driver specifically affecting the omapfb implementation for OMAP (Open Multimedia Application Platform) hardware. This flaw exists in the lcd_mipid subsystem which handles display controller communication through SPI interfaces. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-401 as a failure to release memory resource, making it a classic memory management error that can lead to system instability and resource exhaustion over time.
The technical flaw manifests in the mipid_spi_probe() function where the code fails to properly handle error conditions during the device detection phase. When the mipid_detect() function returns an error indicating that display controller detection has failed, the code path does not execute the necessary cleanup operation to free the md (mipi display) structure that was previously allocated. This allocation occurs before the detection function call and represents a direct memory leak in the kernel space context where resource management is critical for system stability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory consumption as it can lead to progressive memory exhaustion on embedded systems running OMAP-based hardware. Systems utilizing this framebuffer driver for display output, particularly in automotive, industrial, or embedded computing environments, may experience gradual performance degradation or complete system crashes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where the system runs for extended periods without rebooting, as the accumulated memory leaks can eventually exhaust available memory resources. The flaw affects devices that rely on OMAP framebuffer drivers for display functionality, including various mobile devices, embedded systems, and industrial control units.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve applying the official kernel patch that ensures proper memory cleanup in error handling paths. System administrators should prioritize updating kernel versions to include the fix, particularly in production environments where memory exhaustion could lead to critical system failures. The fix implements proper resource management by ensuring that the md structure is freed when mipid_detect() fails, thereby preventing the memory leak. Organizations should also implement monitoring systems to detect memory usage patterns that might indicate similar resource management issues in other kernel subsystems, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive error handling in kernel space programming. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under privilege escalation through resource exhaustion techniques, as improper memory management can lead to system instability that attackers might exploit to gain unauthorized access or cause denial of service conditions.