CVE-2023-53441

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: cpumap: Fix memory leak in cpu_map_update_elem Syzkaller reported a memory leak as follows: BUG: memory leak unreferenced object 0xff110001198ef748 (size 192): comm "syz-executor.3", pid 17672, jiffies 4298118891 (age 9.906s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 00 00 00 00 4a 19 00 00 80 ad e3 e4 fe ff c0 00 ....J........... 00 b2 d3 0c 01 00 11 ff 28 f5 8e 19 01 00 11 ff ........(....... backtrace: [<ffffffffadd28087>] __cpu_map_entry_alloc+0xf7/0xb00 [<ffffffffadd28d8e>] cpu_map_update_elem+0x2fe/0x3d0 [<ffffffffadc6d0fd>] bpf_map_update_value.isra.0+0x2bd/0x520 [<ffffffffadc7349b>] map_update_elem+0x4cb/0x720 [<ffffffffadc7d983>] __se_sys_bpf+0x8c3/0xb90 [<ffffffffb029cc80>] do_syscall_64+0x30/0x40 [<ffffffffb0400099>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x61/0xc6 BUG: memory leak unreferenced object 0xff110001198ef528 (size 192): comm "syz-executor.3", pid 17672, jiffies 4298118891 (age 9.906s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ backtrace: [<ffffffffadd281f0>] __cpu_map_entry_alloc+0x260/0xb00 [<ffffffffadd28d8e>] cpu_map_update_elem+0x2fe/0x3d0 [<ffffffffadc6d0fd>] bpf_map_update_value.isra.0+0x2bd/0x520 [<ffffffffadc7349b>] map_update_elem+0x4cb/0x720 [<ffffffffadc7d983>] __se_sys_bpf+0x8c3/0xb90 [<ffffffffb029cc80>] do_syscall_64+0x30/0x40 [<ffffffffb0400099>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x61/0xc6 BUG: memory leak unreferenced object 0xff1100010fd93d68 (size 8): comm "syz-executor.3", pid 17672, jiffies 4298118891 (age 9.906s) hex dump (first 8 bytes): 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........ backtrace: [<ffffffffade5db3e>] kvmalloc_node+0x11e/0x170 [<ffffffffadd28280>] __cpu_map_entry_alloc+0x2f0/0xb00 [<ffffffffadd28d8e>] cpu_map_update_elem+0x2fe/0x3d0 [<ffffffffadc6d0fd>] bpf_map_update_value.isra.0+0x2bd/0x520 [<ffffffffadc7349b>] map_update_elem+0x4cb/0x720 [<ffffffffadc7d983>] __se_sys_bpf+0x8c3/0xb90 [<ffffffffb029cc80>] do_syscall_64+0x30/0x40 [<ffffffffb0400099>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x61/0xc6 In the cpu_map_update_elem flow, when kthread_stop is called before calling the threadfn of rcpu->kthread, since the KTHREAD_SHOULD_STOP bit of kthread has been set by kthread_stop, the threadfn of rcpu->kthread will never be executed, and rcpu->refcnt will never be 0, which will lead to the allocated rcpu, rcpu->queue and rcpu->queue->queue cannot be released. Calling kthread_stop before executing kthread's threadfn will return -EINTR. We can complete the release of memory resources in this state.

At a glance

Exploitability

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

Exploit odds

0.1% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

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

Timeline

1. 2025-09-18 16:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 06:45 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.1% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2025-09-18 16:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 06:45 UTC

Exploit probability

0.1% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-401

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 5.15.121
• Linux Kernel < 6.1.40
• Linux Kernel < 6.4.5
• Linux Kernel 6.5

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-2023-53441.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2023-53441. 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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