Linux Kernel up to 6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3 nvme_ctrl_dhchap_ctrl_secret_store memory leak

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3. It has been rated as critical. The affected element is the function nvme_ctrl_dhchap_ctrl_secret_store. Performing a manipulation results in memory leak. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2023-53792. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3. This affects the function nvme_ctrl_dhchap_ctrl_secret_store. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvme-core: fix memory leak in dhchap_ctrl_secret Free dhchap_secret in nvme_ctrl_dhchap_ctrl_secret_store() before we return when nvme_auth_generate_key() returns error.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2023-53792 since 12/09/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

Upgrading to version 6.1.39, 6.3.13 or 6.4.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 43d0724d756a13694f612a8a151f835ad6425b93/39b90fc75943406d2bd60fd1ea041aca2559cc5f/6ec30a62789913b1bd0f0d44ea4d0d2d5608b1e8/99c2dcc8ffc24e210a3aa05c204d92f3ef460b05 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). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for 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

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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