Linux Kernel up to 6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3 clk imx93_clocks_probe memory leak

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function imx93_clocks_probe of the component clk. Performing a manipulation results in memory leak. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-54221. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function imx93_clocks_probe of the component clk. 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: clk: imx93: fix memory leak and missing unwind goto in imx93_clocks_probe In function probe(), it returns directly without unregistered hws when error occurs. Fix this by adding 'goto unregister_hws;' on line 295 and line 310. Use devm_kzalloc() instead of kzalloc() to automatically free the memory using devm_kfree() when error occurs. Replace of_iomap() with devm_of_iomap() to automatically handle the unused ioremap region and delete 'iounmap(anatop_base);' in unregister_hws.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2023-54221 since 12/30/2025. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 281544 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54221), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.39, 6.3.13 or 6.4.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 280a5ff665e12d1e0c54c20cedc9c5008aa686a5/fac9c624138c4bc021d7a8ee3b974c9e10926d92/d17c16a2b2a6589c45b0bfb1b9914da80b72d89e/e02ba11b457647050cb16e7cad16cec3c252fade 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 (281544) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2941). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• IBM Power Hardware Management Console
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux
• IBM DataPower Gateway

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

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