CVE-2023-53468

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ubifs: Fix memory leak in alloc_wbufs() kmemleak reported a sequence of memory leaks, and show them as following: unreferenced object 0xffff8881575f8400 (size 1024): comm "mount", pid 19625, jiffies 4297119604 (age 20.383s) 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: [<ffffffff8176cecd>] __kmalloc+0x4d/0x150 [<ffffffffa0406b2b>] ubifs_mount+0x307b/0x7170 [ubifs] [<ffffffff819fa8fd>] legacy_get_tree+0xed/0x1d0 [<ffffffff81936f2d>] vfs_get_tree+0x7d/0x230 [<ffffffff819b2bd4>] path_mount+0xdd4/0x17b0 [<ffffffff819b37aa>] __x64_sys_mount+0x1fa/0x270 [<ffffffff83c14295>] do_syscall_64+0x35/0x80 [<ffffffff83e0006a>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x46/0xb0 unreferenced object 0xffff8881798a6e00 (size 512): comm "mount", pid 19677, jiffies 4297121912 (age 37.816s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk backtrace: [<ffffffff8176cecd>] __kmalloc+0x4d/0x150 [<ffffffffa0418342>] ubifs_wbuf_init+0x52/0x480 [ubifs] [<ffffffffa0406ca5>] ubifs_mount+0x31f5/0x7170 [ubifs] [<ffffffff819fa8fd>] legacy_get_tree+0xed/0x1d0 [<ffffffff81936f2d>] vfs_get_tree+0x7d/0x230 [<ffffffff819b2bd4>] path_mount+0xdd4/0x17b0 [<ffffffff819b37aa>] __x64_sys_mount+0x1fa/0x270 [<ffffffff83c14295>] do_syscall_64+0x35/0x80 [<ffffffff83e0006a>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x46/0xb0 The problem is that the ubifs_wbuf_init() returns an error in the loop which in the alloc_wbufs(), then the wbuf->buf and wbuf->inodes that were successfully alloced before are not freed. Fix it by adding error hanging path in alloc_wbufs() which frees the memory alloced before when ubifs_wbuf_init() returns an error.

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. 2025-10-01 12:15 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: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2025-10-01 12:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 06:45 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-401

Record status

Analyzed

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 5.4.235
• Linux Kernel < 5.10.173
• Linux Kernel < 5.15.100
• Linux Kernel < 6.1.18
• Linux Kernel < 6.2.5

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-2023-53468.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2023-53468. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

Copy as ticket · More options · Status badge