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Vulnerability record · CVE-2023-53515 · published 1 October 2025

CVE-2023-53515: Linux kernel use after free vulnerability

Linux · Linux Kernel

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: virtio-mmio: don't break lifecycle of vm_dev vm_dev has a separate lifecycle because it has a 'struct device' embedded. Thus, having a release callback for it is correct. Allocating the vm_dev struct with devres totally breaks this protection, though. Instead of waiting for the vm_dev release callback, the memory is freed when the platform_device is removed. Resulting in a use-after-free when finally the callback is to be called. To easily see the problem, compile the kernel with CONFIG_DEBUG_KOBJECT_RELEASE and unbind with sysfs. The fix is easy, don't use devres in this case. Found during my research about object lifetime problems.

7.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 0.15% · top 96.6% CWE-416 · Use after free
7.8CVSS 3.1 base score
0.15%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
7References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: virtio-mmio: don't break lifecycle of vm_dev vm_dev has a separate lifecycle because it has a 'struct device' embedded. Thus, having a release callback for it is correct. Allocating the vm_dev struct with devres totally breaks this protection, though. Instead of waiting for the vm_dev release callback, the memory is freed when the platform_device is removed. Resulting in a use-after-free when finally the callback is to be called. To easily see the problem, compile the kernel with CONFIG_DEBUG_KOBJECT_RELEASE and unbind with sysfs. The fix is easy, don't use devres in this case. Found during my research about object lifetime problems.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2dcb368fe5a8eee498ca75c93a18ce2f3b0d6a8e Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3ff54d904fafabd0912796785e53cce4e69ca123 Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/55c91fedd03d7b9cf0c5199b2eb12b9b8e95281a Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5b7d5c2dd664eb8b9a06ecbc06e28d39359c422e Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/97a2d55ead76358245b446efd87818e919196d7a Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/af5818c35173e096085c6ae2e3aac605d3d15e41 Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b788ad3b2468512339c05f23692e36860264e674 Patch

Track CVE-2023-53515 inside VULONE

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2023-53515), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.