Linux Kernel up to 7.1.1 8250_dw 8250_dw.c dw8250_probe use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.1. Affected by this vulnerability is the function dw8250_probe of the file drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_dw.c of the component 8250_dw. Executing a manipulation can lead to use after free. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-53384. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.1. This vulnerability affects the function dw8250_probe of the file drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_dw.c of the component 8250_dw. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: serial: 8250_dw: unregister 8250 port if clk_notifier_register() fails dw8250_probe() registers the 8250 port via serial8250_register_8250_port() and then, if the device has a clock, registers a clock notifier. If clk_notifier_register() fails, probe returns the error but leaves the 8250 port registered. The matching serial8250_unregister_port() lives in dw8250_remove(), which is not called when probe fails, so the port slot stays occupied until the device is rebound or the system is rebooted. The devm-allocated driver data is freed while the port still references it (via the saved private_data and serial_in/serial_out callbacks), so any access to that port slot before a rebind is a use-after-free hazard. Unregister the port on the clk_notifier_register() error path.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-53384 since 06/09/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 07/19/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.1.177, 6.6.144, 6.12.95, 6.18.38, 7.0.14, 7.1.2 or 7.2-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.176
• 6.6.143
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
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• 6.12.11
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• 6.12.84
• 6.12.85
• 6.12.86
• 6.12.87
• 6.12.88
• 6.12.89
• 6.12.90
• 6.12.91
• 6.12.92
• 6.12.93
• 6.12.94
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
• 6.18.12
• 6.18.13
• 6.18.14
• 6.18.15
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• 6.18.17
• 6.18.18
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• 6.18.30
• 6.18.31
• 6.18.32
• 6.18.33
• 6.18.34
• 6.18.35
• 6.18.36
• 6.18.37
• 7.0.0
• 7.0.1
• 7.0.2
• 7.0.3
• 7.0.4
• 7.0.5
• 7.0.6
• 7.0.7
• 7.0.8
• 7.0.9
• 7.0.10
• 7.0.11
• 7.0.12
• 7.0.13
• 7.1.0
• 7.1.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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Entryinfo

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