Linux Kernel up to 4.14.307/6.1.15/6.2.2 cpufreq_unregister_driver use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.7$5k-$25k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 4.14.307/6.1.15/6.2.2. Impacted is the function cpufreq_unregister_driver. The manipulation results in use after free. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2023-53544. No exploit is available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 4.14.307/6.1.15/6.2.2. Affected is the function cpufreq_unregister_driver. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cpufreq: davinci: Fix clk use after free The remove function first frees the clks and only then calls cpufreq_unregister_driver(). If one of the cpufreq callbacks is called just before cpufreq_unregister_driver() is run, the freed clks might be used.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2023-53544 since 10/04/2025. The exploitability is told to be easy. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 03/01/2026).

Upgrading to version 4.14.308, 6.1.16 or 6.2.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 66b3bbe6fbd8dd410868e5b53ac3944a934b9310/a5f024d0e6f91e05c816ad4ee8837173369dd5cb/ab05ae4ab831f64bbc427592c86f599ed9c4324f/5d8f384a9b4fc50f6a18405f1c08e5a87a77b5b3 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 EUVD (EUVD-2023-60064) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2194). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • Dell NetWorker

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.7

VulDB Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 4.14.308/6.1.16/6.2.3
Patch: 66b3bbe6fbd8dd410868e5b53ac3944a934b9310/a5f024d0e6f91e05c816ad4ee8837173369dd5cb/ab05ae4ab831f64bbc427592c86f599ed9c4324f/5d8f384a9b4fc50f6a18405f1c08e5a87a77b5b3

Timelineinfo

10/04/2025 Advisory disclosed
10/04/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
10/04/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
03/01/2026 +148 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-53544 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-53544
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-327090
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2194 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 10/04/2025 18:04
Updated: 03/01/2026 23:41
Changes: 10/04/2025 18:04 (58), 10/05/2025 06:45 (1), 11/23/2025 13:56 (7), 12/26/2025 09:48 (1), 02/12/2026 17:04 (11), 03/01/2026 23:41 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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