CVE-2023-53514
Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete
BaseFortify

Publication date: 2025-10-01

Last updated on: 2026-01-23

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: gpu: host1x: Fix memory leak of device names The device names allocated by dev_set_name() need be freed before module unloading, but they can not be freed because the kobject's refcount which was set in device_initialize() has not be decreased to 0. As comment of device_add() says, if it fails, use only put_device() drop the refcount, then the name will be freed in kobejct_cleanup(). device_del() and put_device() can be replaced with device_unregister(), so call it to unregister the added successfully devices, and just call put_device() to the not added device. Add a release() function to device to avoid null release() function WARNING in device_release(), it's empty, because the context devices are freed together in host1x_memory_context_list_free().
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Meta Information
Published
2025-10-01
Last Modified
2026-01-23
Generated
2026-06-16
AI Q&A
2025-10-01
EPSS Evaluated
2026-06-15
NVD
CVE-2023-53514
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 3 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel From 6.0 (inc) to 6.1.28 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.2 (inc) to 6.2.15 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.3 (inc) to 6.3.2 (exc)
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Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-401 The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, making the memory unavailable for reallocation and reuse.
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Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a memory leak in the Linux kernel related to the gpu host1x driver. Specifically, device names allocated by dev_set_name() are not properly freed before module unloading because the kobject's reference count set in device_initialize() does not decrease to zero. This prevents freeing the allocated device names, causing a memory leak.

Impact Analysis

The memory leak caused by this vulnerability can lead to increased memory usage over time, potentially degrading system performance or causing resource exhaustion if the affected devices are frequently loaded and unloaded.

Mitigation Strategies

To mitigate this vulnerability, update the Linux kernel to a version where the memory leak in the gpu host1x driver related to device names has been fixed. This fix involves proper freeing of device names before module unloading by correctly managing the kobject's reference count and using device_unregister() to unregister devices. Applying the patch or kernel update that includes these changes will prevent the memory leak.

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