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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53279: misc: vmw_balloon: fix memory leak with using debugfs_lookup()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: misc: vmw_balloon: 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.

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-53279 is a Linux kernel memory leak in the VMware balloon driver’s debugfs handling. Over time, leaked memory can degrade or deny availability. It is not a remote code execution issue, and the provided sources do not show active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a routine-to-prioritized availability patch, especially for shared Linux environments. It does not justify emergency response absent additional exposure evidence, but should not be ignored on multi-user or virtualized systems.

Technical view

The kernel vmw_balloon code used debugfs_lookup() without releasing the returned dentry with dput(), causing a CWE-401 memory leak. The upstream resolution replaces the pattern with debugfs_lookup_and_remove(). CVSS 3.1 is 5.5: local access, low privileges, no user interaction, high availability impact.

Likely exposure

Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the vmw_balloon driver present are the relevant exposure. Distro-specific backport status is not provided in the source bundle, so kernel package provenance matters.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector indicates local, low-privilege exploitation with availability impact only. CISA KEV is false in the provided data, and no source here documents in-the-wild exploitation.

Researcher notes

The source bundle identifies the fix and root cause but does not provide distro-specific affected ranges, proof-of-concept status, or operational mitigations beyond updating. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the local availability impact expressed by CVSS.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor kernel updates that include the referenced stable Linux fixes.
  • Check distribution advisories for backported fixes matching your deployed kernels.
  • Prioritize systems where local users or workloads are less trusted.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected systems.
  • Check whether vmw_balloon is present or enabled on those systems.
  • Confirm installed kernels include the referenced upstream stable commits or vendor backports.
  • Monitor for unexplained kernel memory growth on potentially affected 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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-401: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2023-53279 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
5Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

5.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2023-53279Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

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.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux37b85bd5f20cbe28140d370a840738b6f2e85cbf, 37b85bd5f20cbe28140d370a840738b6f2e85cbf, 37b85bd5f20cbe28140d370a840738b6f2e85cbf, 37b85bd5f20cbe28140d370a840738b6f2e85cbfunaffected
LinuxLinux5.13, 0, 5.15.100, 6.1.18, 6.2.5, 6.3affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-401

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-401 · source CWE mapping

Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime

Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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