Linux Kernel up to 5.10.187/5.15.120/6.1.38/6.4.3 shmem ramfs_kill_sb memory leak

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.187/5.15.120/6.1.38/6.4.3. This impacts the function ramfs_kill_sb of the component shmem. This manipulation causes memory leak. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2023-53391. There is no available exploit. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.187/5.15.120/6.1.38/6.4.3. Affected by this vulnerability is the function ramfs_kill_sb of the component shmem. 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: shmem: use ramfs_kill_sb() for kill_sb method of ramfs-based tmpfs As the ramfs-based tmpfs uses ramfs_init_fs_context() for the init_fs_context method, which allocates fc->s_fs_info, use ramfs_kill_sb() to free it and avoid a memory leak.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2023-53391 since 09/17/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 265581 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53391), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.10.188, 5.15.121, 6.1.39 or 6.4.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 5fada375113767b3b57f1b04f7a4fe64ffaa626f/487f229efea80c00dd7397547ec4f25fb8999d99/1f34bf8b442c6d720e7fa6f15e8702427e48aea9/ebe07db840992a3886694ac3d303b06f4b70ce00/36ce9d76b0a93bae799e27e4f5ac35478c676592 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 (265581) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2092). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

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

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.10.187
• 5.15.120
• 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
• 6.1.18
• 6.1.19
• 6.1.20
• 6.1.21
• 6.1.22
• 6.1.23
• 6.1.24
• 6.1.25
• 6.1.26
• 6.1.27
• 6.1.28
• 6.1.29
• 6.1.30
• 6.1.31
• 6.1.32
• 6.1.33
• 6.1.34
• 6.1.35
• 6.1.36
• 6.1.37
• 6.1.38
• 6.4.0
• 6.4.1
• 6.4.2
• 6.4.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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