CVE-2023-53858 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 12/09/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
tty: serial: samsung_tty: Fix a memory leak in s3c24xx_serial_getclk() in case of error
If clk_get_rate() fails, the clk that has just been allocated needs to be freed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-53858 represents a memory leak in the Linux kernel's tty serial subsystem, specifically within the samsung_tty driver implementation. This flaw exists in the s3c24xx_serial_getclk() function where proper resource cleanup is not performed when clk_get_rate() encounters an error condition. The issue manifests during the initialization process of serial communication hardware on Samsung-based embedded systems utilizing the s3c24xx serial controller architecture. The memory leak occurs because allocated clock resources are not properly released when error conditions arise during clock rate retrieval operations.
This memory management flaw falls under the category of improper resource management as classified by CWE-404, specifically involving memory leaks in kernel space operations. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic pattern of resource acquisition without corresponding release in error handling paths, which is a fundamental security concern in kernel development. The Samsung tty driver implementation for s3c24xx serial controllers fails to maintain proper resource accounting when error conditions occur during clock initialization, creating potential for gradual memory exhaustion over time.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory consumption issues, as it can lead to system instability and reduced performance on embedded devices running affected Linux kernel versions. Systems utilizing Samsung-based serial communication hardware, particularly those in industrial control, embedded computing, or IoT applications, may experience progressive memory degradation that could eventually result in system crashes or unresponsive behavior. The memory leak affects the serial communication subsystem specifically, potentially disrupting critical communication paths in embedded environments where serial interfaces are essential for device operation and data exchange.
From an attack perspective, while this vulnerability does not directly enable arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation, it represents a potential denial of service vector that could be exploited by adversaries seeking to destabilize embedded systems. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for resource exhaustion, where attackers could potentially trigger the memory leak repeatedly to consume system resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where embedded systems operate continuously without regular restarts, as the gradual memory consumption could lead to system failure over extended periods. Proper mitigation requires kernel updates that ensure clk_put() is called when clk_get_rate() fails, implementing proper error handling that maintains resource consistency and prevents memory leaks through comprehensive cleanup operations.
The fix for CVE-2023-53858 involves implementing proper error handling in the s3c24xx_serial_getclk() function to ensure that clock resources allocated via clk_get() are properly released using clk_put() when clk_get_rate() returns an error condition. This represents a fundamental requirement for robust kernel programming practices and proper resource management in embedded system drivers. The resolution addresses the core issue of resource leak prevention in kernel space operations, ensuring that all allocated resources are properly accounted for and released regardless of error conditions during driver initialization. This vulnerability underscores the importance of comprehensive error handling and resource management in kernel drivers, particularly in embedded systems where resource constraints are critical and memory exhaustion can have severe operational consequences.