Linux Kernel up to 6.2.2 KVM include/linux/slab.h kvm_io_bus_unregister_dev memory leak

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4.6	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 5.4.234/5.10.172/5.15.98/6.1.15/6.2.2. The impacted element is the function kvm_io_bus_unregister_dev of the file include/linux/slab.h of the component KVM. Executing a manipulation can lead to memory leak. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2023-54024. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 5.4.234/5.10.172/5.15.98/6.1.15/6.2.2 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function kvm_io_bus_unregister_dev of the file include/linux/slab.h of the component KVM. 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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: Destroy target device if coalesced MMIO unregistration fails Destroy and free the target coalesced MMIO device if unregistering said device fails. As clearly noted in the code, kvm_io_bus_unregister_dev() does not destroy the target device. BUG: memory leak unreferenced object 0xffff888112a54880 (size 64): comm "syz-executor.2", pid 5258, jiffies 4297861402 (age 14.129s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 38 c7 67 15 00 c9 ff ff 38 c7 67 15 00 c9 ff ff 8.g.....8.g..... e0 c7 e1 83 ff ff ff ff 00 30 67 15 00 c9 ff ff .........0g..... backtrace: [<0000000006995a8a>] kmalloc include/linux/slab.h:556 [inline] [<0000000006995a8a>] kzalloc include/linux/slab.h:690 [inline] [<0000000006995a8a>] kvm_vm_ioctl_register_coalesced_mmio+0x8e/0x3d0 arch/x86/kvm/../../../virt/kvm/coalesced_mmio.c:150 [<00000000022550c2>] kvm_vm_ioctl+0x47d/0x1600 arch/x86/kvm/../../../virt/kvm/kvm_main.c:3323 [<000000008a75102f>] vfs_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:46 [inline] [<000000008a75102f>] file_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:509 [inline] [<000000008a75102f>] do_vfs_ioctl+0xbab/0x1160 fs/ioctl.c:696 [<0000000080e3f669>] ksys_ioctl+0x76/0xa0 fs/ioctl.c:713 [<0000000059ef4888>] __do_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:720 [inline] [<0000000059ef4888>] __se_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:718 [inline] [<0000000059ef4888>] __x64_sys_ioctl+0x6f/0xb0 fs/ioctl.c:718 [<000000006444fa05>] do_syscall_64+0x9f/0x4e0 arch/x86/entry/common.c:290 [<000000009a4ed50b>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x49/0xbe BUG: leak checking failed

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-54024 since 12/24/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 279968 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54024), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.235, 5.10.173, 5.15.99, 6.1.16 or 6.2.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 10c2a20d73e99463e69b7e92706791656adc16d7/76a9886e1b61ce5592df5ae78a19ed30399ae189/999439fd5da5a76253e2f2c37b94204f47d75491/ccf6a7fb1aedb1472e1241ee55e4d26b68f8d066/fb436dd6914325075f07d19851ab277b7a693ae7/b1cb1fac22abf102ffeb29dd3eeca208a3869d54 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 (279968) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2920). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Open Source Linux Kernel

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
• 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
• 6.2.0
• 6.2.1
• 6.2.2

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: 4.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.6

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

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

Physical: No
Local: No
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: 279968
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54024

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.235/5.10.173/5.15.99/6.1.16/6.2.3
Patch: 10c2a20d73e99463e69b7e92706791656adc16d7/76a9886e1b61ce5592df5ae78a19ed30399ae189/999439fd5da5a76253e2f2c37b94204f47d75491/ccf6a7fb1aedb1472e1241ee55e4d26b68f8d066/fb436dd6914325075f07d19851ab277b7a693ae7/b1cb1fac22abf102ffeb29dd3eeca208a3869d54

Timelineinfo

12/24/2025 Advisory disclosed
12/24/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
12/24/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
12/26/2025 +2 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CNA: Linux
CVE: CVE-2023-54024 (🔒)

GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-54024
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-338224
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2920 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 12/24/2025 15:31
Updated: 12/26/2025 04:02
Changes: 12/24/2025 15:31 (60), 12/25/2025 09:09 (7), 12/25/2025 12:16 (1), 12/26/2025 04:02 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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