Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3 and classified as critical. This impacts the function perf_env of the file util/env.c. This manipulation causes memory leak. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2023-53793. There is not any exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3. Affected by this vulnerability is the function perf_env of the file util/env.c. 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: perf tool x86: Fix perf_env memory leak Found by leak sanitizer: ``` ==1632594==ERROR: LeakSanitizer: detected memory leaks Direct leak of 21 byte(s) in 1 object(s) allocated from: #0 0x7f2953a7077b in __interceptor_strdup ../../../../src/libsanitizer/asan/asan_interceptors.cpp:439 #1 0x556701d6fbbf in perf_env__read_cpuid util/env.c:369 #2 0x556701d70589 in perf_env__cpuid util/env.c:465 #3 0x55670204bba2 in x86__is_amd_cpu arch/x86/util/env.c:14 #4 0x5567020487a2 in arch__post_evsel_config arch/x86/util/evsel.c:83 #5 0x556701d8f78b in evsel__config util/evsel.c:1366 #6 0x556701ef5872 in evlist__config util/record.c:108 #7 0x556701cd6bcd in test__PERF_RECORD tests/perf-record.c:112 #8 0x556701cacd07 in run_test tests/builtin-test.c:236 #9 0x556701cacfac in test_and_print tests/builtin-test.c:265 #10 0x556701cadddb in __cmd_test tests/builtin-test.c:402 #11 0x556701caf2aa in cmd_test tests/builtin-test.c:559 #12 0x556701d3b557 in run_builtin tools/perf/perf.c:323 #13 0x556701d3bac8 in handle_internal_command tools/perf/perf.c:377 #14 0x556701d3be90 in run_argv tools/perf/perf.c:421 #15 0x556701d3c3f8 in main tools/perf/perf.c:537 #16 0x7f2952a46189 in __libc_start_call_main ../sysdeps/nptl/libc_start_call_main.h:58 SUMMARY: AddressSanitizer: 21 byte(s) leaked in 1 allocation(s). ```

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2023-53793 since 12/09/2025. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.1.39, 6.3.13 or 6.4.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 75d65c1cc439606ada882755fd205d13c2c7907d/010139bfc6bb9ddab81dbc2cf71cd3a9c28adc7f/f3daf02a41e3c11e1a473517a8a6169248fb8e7b/99d4850062a84564f36923764bb93935ef2ed108 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 vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2765). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 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
• 6.3.0
• 6.3.1
• 6.3.2
• 6.3.3
• 6.3.4
• 6.3.5
• 6.3.6
• 6.3.7
• 6.3.8
• 6.3.9
• 6.3.10
• 6.3.11
• 6.3.12
• 6.4.0
• 6.4.1
• 6.4.2
• 6.4.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Discussion