Linux Kernel up to 6.2.4 debugfs_lookup memory leak

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5.5	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.4.234/5.10.172/5.15.99/6.1.17/6.2.4. It has been classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function debugfs_lookup. This manipulation causes memory leak. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2023-53346. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.4.234/5.10.172/5.15.99/6.1.17/6.2.4. Affected by this vulnerability is the function debugfs_lookup. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: kernel/fail_function: fix memory leak with using debugfs_lookup() When calling debugfs_lookup() the result must have dput() called on it, otherwise the memory will leak over time. To make things simpler, just call debugfs_lookup_and_remove() instead which handles all of the logic at once.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2023-53346 since 09/16/2025. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 265475 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53346), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.235, 5.10.173, 5.15.100, 6.1.18 or 6.2.5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch f6d3aee1c66358471275df9dddd480010f061b0e/dd9981a11d74ff2eb253bb5c459876f8bd3c6c36/bb99db06b8b6ce9351633fc61bec9919d8f6f52b/29d53c4c5a6f6d2b93aaac95b65cb4c907faf2ff/94f68f3e059c478e240f65fcb64746fe371295df/2bb3669f576559db273efe49e0e69f82450efbca is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (265475) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2087). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.4.234
• 5.10.172
• 5.15.0
• 5.15.1
• 5.15.2
• 5.15.3
• 5.15.4
• 5.15.5
• 5.15.6
• 5.15.7
• 5.15.8
• 5.15.9
• 5.15.10
• 5.15.11
• 5.15.12
• 5.15.13
• 5.15.14
• 5.15.15
• 5.15.16
• 5.15.17
• 5.15.18
• 5.15.19
• 5.15.20
• 5.15.21
• 5.15.22
• 5.15.23
• 5.15.24
• 5.15.25
• 5.15.26
• 5.15.27
• 5.15.28
• 5.15.29
• 5.15.30
• 5.15.31
• 5.15.32
• 5.15.33
• 5.15.34
• 5.15.35
• 5.15.36
• 5.15.37
• 5.15.38
• 5.15.39
• 5.15.40
• 5.15.41
• 5.15.42
• 5.15.43
• 5.15.44
• 5.15.45
• 5.15.46
• 5.15.47
• 5.15.48
• 5.15.49
• 5.15.50
• 5.15.51
• 5.15.52
• 5.15.53
• 5.15.54
• 5.15.55
• 5.15.56
• 5.15.57
• 5.15.58
• 5.15.59
• 5.15.60
• 5.15.61
• 5.15.62
• 5.15.63
• 5.15.64
• 5.15.65
• 5.15.66
• 5.15.67
• 5.15.68
• 5.15.69
• 5.15.70
• 5.15.71
• 5.15.72
• 5.15.73
• 5.15.74
• 5.15.75
• 5.15.76
• 5.15.77
• 5.15.78
• 5.15.79
• 5.15.80
• 5.15.81
• 5.15.82
• 5.15.83
• 5.15.84
• 5.15.85
• 5.15.86
• 5.15.87
• 5.15.88
• 5.15.89
• 5.15.90
• 5.15.91
• 5.15.92
• 5.15.93
• 5.15.94
• 5.15.95
• 5.15.96
• 5.15.97
• 5.15.98
• 5.15.99
• 6.1.0
• 6.1.1
• 6.1.2
• 6.1.3
• 6.1.4
• 6.1.5
• 6.1.6
• 6.1.7
• 6.1.8
• 6.1.9
• 6.1.10
• 6.1.11
• 6.1.12
• 6.1.13
• 6.1.14
• 6.1.15
• 6.1.16
• 6.1.17
• 6.2.0
• 6.2.1
• 6.2.2
• 6.2.3
• 6.2.4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory leak
CWE: CWE-401 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 265475
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53346

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.235/5.10.173/5.15.100/6.1.18/6.2.5
Patch: f6d3aee1c66358471275df9dddd480010f061b0e/dd9981a11d74ff2eb253bb5c459876f8bd3c6c36/bb99db06b8b6ce9351633fc61bec9919d8f6f52b/29d53c4c5a6f6d2b93aaac95b65cb4c907faf2ff/94f68f3e059c478e240f65fcb64746fe371295df/2bb3669f576559db273efe49e0e69f82450efbca

Timelineinfo

09/16/2025 CVE reserved
09/17/2025 +1 days Advisory disclosed
09/17/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
12/27/2025 +101 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-53346 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-53346
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-324721
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2087 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 09/17/2025 18:06
Updated: 12/27/2025 03:21
Changes: 09/17/2025 18:06 (58), 09/22/2025 23:45 (2), 12/11/2025 16:42 (10), 12/27/2025 03:21 (7)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Discussion

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