Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-53406 is a Linux kernel memory leak in the USB gadget pxa25x_udc driver. The issue can consume memory over time and affect availability. The CVSS vector indicates local, low-privilege access is required, with no confidentiality or integrity impact identified in the supplied sources.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate availability issue. It is not described as remotely exploitable and has no cited confidentiality or integrity impact, but kernel memory leaks can still matter on embedded, appliance, or locally shared systems.
Technical view
The kernel bug is improper cleanup after debugfs_lookup(): the returned dentry requires dput(), otherwise memory leaks. The resolved change uses debugfs_lookup_and_remove(), which performs lookup and removal cleanup together. The issue is classified as CWE-401 and carries CVSS 3.1 score 5.5 for local availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the USB gadget pxa25x_udc code path present. The source lists Linux versions including 5.14, 5.15.100, 6.1.18, 6.2.5, and 6.3 as affected, but distribution backport status must be verified separately.
Exploitation context
The supplied sources do not show active exploitation, and KEV status is false. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires local low-privilege access and no user interaction. The practical risk is denial of service through memory exhaustion, not data theft or tampering.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Linux stable commit references. The root cause and fix are clear, but no public exploit status, distribution matrix, or operational workaround is provided in the supplied bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a kernel build containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Check your Linux distribution advisory for backported kernel patches.
- Prioritize systems where USB gadget pxa25x_udc is enabled or relevant.
- Track vendor guidance if a fixed package is not yet available.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected assets.
- Confirm whether pxa25x_udc is built, loaded, or used.
- Verify installed kernel includes the referenced stable commit fix.
- Review vendor kernel changelogs for CVE-2023-53406 coverage.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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-401: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-53406 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- 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
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6236a6d2cdfb710bd8a82c4b179d0a034d0d99cbCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/78d9586d8e728be1e360d3d0da7170c791d1d55eCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8d48a7887dbca22e064c20caf20ae7949019fe9bCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7a038a681b7df78362d9fc7013e5395a694a9d3aCVE reference, Linux
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
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.