CVE-2023-53190

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vxlan: Fix memory leaks in error path The memory allocated by vxlan_vnigroup_init() is not freed in the error path, leading to memory leaks [1]. Fix by calling vxlan_vnigroup_uninit() in the error path. The leaks can be reproduced by annotating gro_cells_init() with ALLOW_ERROR_INJECTION() and then running: # echo "100" > /sys/kernel/debug/fail_function/probability # echo "1" > /sys/kernel/debug/fail_function/times # echo "gro_cells_init" > /sys/kernel/debug/fail_function/inject # printf %#x -12 > /sys/kernel/debug/fail_function/gro_cells_init/retval # ip link add name vxlan0 type vxlan dstport 4789 external vnifilter RTNETLINK answers: Cannot allocate memory [1] unreferenced object 0xffff88810db84a00 (size 512): comm "ip", pid 330, jiffies 4295010045 (age 66.016s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): f8 d5 76 0e 81 88 ff ff 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 ..v............. 03 00 04 00 48 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 04 00 01 00 ....H........... backtrace: [<ffffffff81a3097a>] kmalloc_trace+0x2a/0x60 [<ffffffff82f049fc>] vxlan_vnigroup_init+0x4c/0x160 [<ffffffff82ecd69e>] vxlan_init+0x1ae/0x280 [<ffffffff836858ca>] register_netdevice+0x57a/0x16d0 [<ffffffff82ef67b7>] __vxlan_dev_create+0x7c7/0xa50 [<ffffffff82ef6ce6>] vxlan_newlink+0xd6/0x130 [<ffffffff836d02ab>] __rtnl_newlink+0x112b/0x18a0 [<ffffffff836d0a8c>] rtnl_newlink+0x6c/0xa0 [<ffffffff836c0ddf>] rtnetlink_rcv_msg+0x43f/0xd40 [<ffffffff83908ce0>] netlink_rcv_skb+0x170/0x440 [<ffffffff839066af>] netlink_unicast+0x53f/0x810 [<ffffffff839072d8>] netlink_sendmsg+0x958/0xe70 [<ffffffff835c319f>] ____sys_sendmsg+0x78f/0xa90 [<ffffffff835cd6da>] ___sys_sendmsg+0x13a/0x1e0 [<ffffffff835cd94c>] __sys_sendmsg+0x11c/0x1f0 [<ffffffff8424da78>] do_syscall_64+0x38/0x80 unreferenced object 0xffff88810e76d5f8 (size 192): comm "ip", pid 330, jiffies 4295010045 (age 66.016s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 db e1 4f e7 00 00 00 00 ..........O..... 08 d6 76 0e 81 88 ff ff 08 d6 76 0e 81 88 ff ff ..v.......v..... backtrace: [<ffffffff81a3162e>] __kmalloc_node+0x4e/0x90 [<ffffffff81a0e166>] kvmalloc_node+0xa6/0x1f0 [<ffffffff8276e1a3>] bucket_table_alloc.isra.0+0x83/0x460 [<ffffffff8276f18b>] rhashtable_init+0x43b/0x7c0 [<ffffffff82f04a1c>] vxlan_vnigroup_init+0x6c/0x160 [<ffffffff82ecd69e>] vxlan_init+0x1ae/0x280 [<ffffffff836858ca>] register_netdevice+0x57a/0x16d0 [<ffffffff82ef67b7>] __vxlan_dev_create+0x7c7/0xa50 [<ffffffff82ef6ce6>] vxlan_newlink+0xd6/0x130 [<ffffffff836d02ab>] __rtnl_newlink+0x112b/0x18a0 [<ffffffff836d0a8c>] rtnl_newlink+0x6c/0xa0 [<ffffffff836c0ddf>] rtnetlink_rcv_msg+0x43f/0xd40 [<ffffffff83908ce0>] netlink_rcv_skb+0x170/0x440 [<ffffffff839066af>] netlink_unicast+0x53f/0x810 [<ffffffff839072d8>] netlink_sendmsg+0x958/0xe70 [<ffffffff835c319f>] ____sys_sendmsg+0x78f/0xa90

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2025-09-15 14:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-11-05 21:17 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2025-09-15 14:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-11-05 21:17 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-401

Record status

Analyzed

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 6.0.19
• Linux Kernel < 6.1.5
• Linux Kernel 6.2

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.5

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2023-53190.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2023-53190. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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