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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53636: clk: microchip: fix potential UAF in auxdev release callback

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: clk: microchip: fix potential UAF in auxdev release callback Similar to commit 1c11289b34ab ("peci: cpu: Fix use-after-free in adev_release()"), the auxiliary device is not torn down in the correct order. If auxiliary_device_add() fails, the release callback will be called twice, resulting in a UAF. Due to timing, the auxdev code in this driver "took inspiration" from the aforementioned commit, and thus its bugs too! Moving auxiliary_device_uninit() to the unregister callback instead avoids the issue.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-53636 is a Linux kernel use-after-free bug in Microchip clock driver cleanup handling. A failed auxiliary device add can trigger the release callback twice. The sources do not provide CVSS, impact, exploitability, or attack prerequisites, so business urgency should be based on affected kernel exposure and vendor patch availability.

Executive priority

Treat this as a kernel maintenance item with uncertain severity. It is not KEV-listed in the supplied data and has no cited exploitation, but use-after-free bugs in kernel code deserve timely remediation where affected kernels are deployed.

Technical view

The kernel fix changes auxiliary device teardown order in clk: microchip. When auxiliary_device_add() fails, prior logic could call the release path twice, creating a potential use-after-free. The cited fix moves auxiliary_device_uninit() to the unregister callback to avoid double release behavior.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions or downstream builds that include the vulnerable Microchip clock driver code. The provided affected data names Linux 6.1, 6.1.28, 6.2.15, 6.3.2, and 6.4, but does not define runtime prerequisites.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not report active exploitation, public exploit code, KEV listing, remote reachability, or required privileges. The trigger described is an auxiliary_device_add() failure path, suggesting exploitability depends on driver initialization and error conditions not fully documented here.

Researcher notes

Evidence is narrow: the record describes a teardown ordering bug and links stable commits, but provides no CVSS, CWE, exploit narrative, or platform-specific impact. Avoid over-scoping beyond Linux kernels containing the vulnerable clk: microchip auxiliary device cleanup path.

Mitigation direction

  • Check your kernel vendor’s advisory or stable-tree patch status for CVE-2023-53636.
  • Update affected Linux kernels to a version containing the cited stable fixes.
  • Prioritize systems using Microchip-related kernel clock driver support.
  • Track downstream distribution backports instead of relying only on upstream version numbers.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, appliances, and embedded systems.
  • Confirm whether affected builds include the Microchip clock driver code.
  • Compare vendor kernel packages against the cited stable kernel commits.
  • Review kernel vendor advisories for backport identifiers and fixed package versions.
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

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CVE-2023-53636 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
LinuxLinuxb56bae2dd6fda6baf3bb74af3812676eebdd52f2, b56bae2dd6fda6baf3bb74af3812676eebdd52f2, b56bae2dd6fda6baf3bb74af3812676eebdd52f2, b56bae2dd6fda6baf3bb74af3812676eebdd52f2unaffected
LinuxLinux6.1, 0, 6.1.28, 6.2.15, 6.3.2, 6.4affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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