Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-53411 is a Linux kernel memory leak in power management energy model debugfs handling. A local low-privileged user could potentially consume kernel memory over time and affect availability. The sources do not indicate data theft, integrity impact, or active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate availability risk. It is not a remote code execution issue, but local denial of service matters on shared Linux systems. Patch through normal kernel maintenance, with faster action for multi-tenant or high-availability infrastructure.
Technical view
The Linux kernel failed to release a reference returned by debugfs_lookup(), causing a CWE-401 memory leak. The upstream fix replaces the lookup/remove sequence with debugfs_lookup_and_remove(), which handles cleanup. CVSS 3.1 is 5.5 with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to affected Linux kernel builds. The source bundle lists Linux versions including 5.0, 5.10.173, 5.15.99, 6.1.16, 6.2.3, and 6.3 as affected, but range details are incomplete. Validate against distribution kernel packages and the referenced stable commits.
Exploitation context
No provided source or KEV signal supports active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires local access with low privileges and targets availability only. The source bundle does not provide exploit prerequisites beyond the vulnerable kernel behavior.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a kernel memory leak caused by missing dput() after debugfs_lookup(). The public bundle does not include exploit details, affected distribution matrices, or proof of active exploitation. Avoid assuming exposure without confirming the exact kernel source or vendor package state.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for exact fixed package versions.
- Prioritize multi-user systems and workloads sensitive to local denial of service.
- If patching is delayed, reduce unnecessary local account access.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, containers hosts, and appliances.
- Compare deployed kernels with vendor advisories and referenced stable commits.
- Confirm patched kernels include the debugfs_lookup_and_remove() fix.
- Track remediation evidence in vulnerability management records.
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-2023-53411 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/e974e8f1e37d22c0de07374f8ddc84073fef2f1dCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/84e4d4885d0ae011860fb599d50d01b8fdca2b87CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5100c4efc30636aa48ac517dece3c3b7f84fe367CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/30fee10192e1239478a0987bc7ee445d5e980d46CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a0e8c13ccd6a9a636d27353da62c2410c4eca337CVE 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.