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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53202: PM: domains: fix memory leak with using debugfs_lookup()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: PM: domains: fix memory leak with using debugfs_lookup() When calling debugfs_lookup() the result must have dput() called on it, otherwise the memory will leak over time. To make things simpler, just call debugfs_lookup_and_remove() instead which handles all of the logic at once.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This CVE describes a Linux kernel memory leak in power-management domain debugfs cleanup. It may slowly consume kernel memory over time. The public bundle provides no CVSS score, no CISA KEV listing, and no active-exploitation evidence, so urgency depends on whether affected kernels are deployed.

Executive priority

Handle through normal kernel patch management unless critical assets run affected long-lived kernels. There is no source-backed evidence of active exploitation or severe impact, but kernel memory leaks can affect availability if left unpatched over time.

Technical view

The issue is missing dput() handling after debugfs_lookup() in Linux PM domains code. The kernel fix replaces the pattern with debugfs_lookup_and_remove(), which performs lookup and removal cleanup together. The source bundle names Linux kernel versions and stable commits, but gives no exploitation details or severity score.

Likely exposure

Potential exposure is Linux systems running affected kernel versions or descendants before the referenced stable fixes. The bundle lists Linux kernel 5.11, 5.15.99, 6.1.16, 6.2.3, and 6.3 context, but precise downstream distribution impact must be verified with vendor kernel advisories.

Exploitation context

The provided sources describe a memory leak over time, not a public exploit path. CISA KEV is false in the bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. Treat exploitability and impact as incomplete until vendor advisories or kernel maintainers provide more detail.

Researcher notes

Focus validation on the PM domains debugfs cleanup path and whether downstream kernels carry the stable commits. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, exploit prerequisites, reachable configurations, or distribution-specific package names, so avoid broader claims without additional vendor evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Check Linux distribution security advisories for CVE-2023-53202 applicability.
  • Update kernels to versions containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize systems with long uptimes or constrained memory.
  • Track vendor backports because distribution kernel versions may not match upstream numbering.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, appliances, and embedded systems.
  • Compare deployed kernels against vendor advisories for CVE-2023-53202.
  • Confirm whether referenced upstream stable commits are included or backported.
  • Monitor kernel memory trends on potentially affected long-running systems.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2023-53202 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
5Source links

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux718072ceb211833f3c71724f49d733d636067191, 718072ceb211833f3c71724f49d733d636067191, 718072ceb211833f3c71724f49d733d636067191, 718072ceb211833f3c71724f49d733d636067191unaffected
LinuxLinux5.11, 0, 5.15.99, 6.1.16, 6.2.3, 6.3affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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