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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53418: USB: gadget: lpc32xx_udc: fix memory leak with using debugfs_lookup()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: USB: gadget: lpc32xx_udc: 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-2023-53418 is a Linux kernel memory leak in the USB gadget lpc32xx_udc driver. A local low-privileged user could repeatedly trigger leaking behavior and degrade availability over time. The issue is medium severity and affects availability, not data confidentiality or integrity, based on the provided CVSS vector.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate operational reliability issue. It is not shown as actively exploited, and it requires local low-privileged access, but unpatched affected systems could suffer availability degradation if the vulnerable path is reachable.

Technical view

The bug is missing reference cleanup after debugfs_lookup() in lpc32xx_udc. The kernel fix replaces the pattern with debugfs_lookup_and_remove(), which handles lookup and removal cleanup together. The CVE is categorized as CWE-401 and scored CVSS 3.1 5.5 with local access and low privileges required.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel versions or backports that include the lpc32xx_udc USB gadget code. The source bundle does not prove broad default exposure across all Linux deployments, so asset validation should focus on kernel version and vendor patch status.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector indicates local access, low privileges, and no user interaction. KEV status is false, and the provided sources do not state active exploitation or public weaponization. Practical risk is denial of service through resource exhaustion rather than data theft.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record and kernel stable commits. The core defect is a debugfs reference leak in lpc32xx_udc fixed by using debugfs_lookup_and_remove(). No exploit details, affected distribution packages, or runtime reachability proof are provided in the bundle.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced stable fix.
  • Check Linux distribution or device vendor guidance for backported patches.
  • Prioritize embedded or appliance kernels using affected Linux branches.
  • Track remediation as an availability hardening item, not a confidentiality incident.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, appliances, and embedded devices.
  • Compare vendor kernel builds against the referenced stable commits.
  • Confirm whether lpc32xx_udc code is present in relevant kernel configurations.
  • Verify vendor advisories for fixed package or firmware availability.
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

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.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2023-53418 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-2023-53418Attack 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
LinuxLinuxe3d59eff47b8cc385acae9d7fb1c787857023376, e3d59eff47b8cc385acae9d7fb1c787857023376, e3d59eff47b8cc385acae9d7fb1c787857023376, e3d59eff47b8cc385acae9d7fb1c787857023376unaffected
LinuxLinux5.14, 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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