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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53849: drm/msm: fix workqueue leak on bind errors

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/msm: fix workqueue leak on bind errors Make sure to destroy the workqueue also in case of early errors during bind (e.g. a subcomponent failing to bind). Since commit c3b790ea07a1 ("drm: Manage drm_mode_config_init with drmm_") the mode config will be freed when the drm device is released also when using the legacy interface, but add an explicit cleanup for consistency and to facilitate backporting. Patchwork: https://patchwork.freedesktop.org/patch/525093/

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue is a cleanup bug in the Qualcomm MSM DRM graphics driver. If device binding fails early, a workqueue may not be destroyed, causing a resource leak. The sources do not show remote code execution, privilege escalation, or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as low urgency unless your fleet includes Qualcomm/MSM Linux devices or products. Prioritize normal kernel maintenance and verify vendor patch availability; no evidence in the bundle supports emergency response.

Technical view

CVE-2023-53849 fixes a drm/msm bind-error path where the driver failed to destroy a workqueue when subcomponent binding failed. Kernel stable references contain backported fixes. Public metadata provides no CVSS score, CWE, exploit evidence, or detailed impact beyond the workqueue leak.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using affected kernel versions with the MSM DRM driver path, commonly tied to Qualcomm/Adreno graphics platforms. Generic servers without this driver path are less likely exposed, but kernel package mapping is required.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle. No cited source reports active exploitation. The observable condition is an error path during driver binding, not a documented remote attack path.

Researcher notes

The core evidence is narrow: a workqueue cleanup fix on early bind failure. The CVE metadata lacks CVSS, CWE, and exploit details, so impact assessment should avoid assumptions beyond resource leakage and affected kernel mapping.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify Linux kernel versions deployed on Qualcomm/MSM graphics platforms.
  • Apply vendor kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • For managed distributions, follow the distribution security advisory and package cadence.
  • If no package exists, check vendor guidance before backporting kernel patches.

Validation and detection

  • Check whether deployed kernels include the referenced stable commits.
  • Confirm whether the msm DRM driver is built, loaded, or used.
  • Review boot and kernel logs for repeated msm bind failures.
  • Track distribution advisories for CVE-2023-53849 package status.
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

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CVE-2023-53849 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
LinuxLinux060530f1ea6740eb767085008d183f89ccdd289c, 060530f1ea6740eb767085008d183f89ccdd289c, 060530f1ea6740eb767085008d183f89ccdd289c, 060530f1ea6740eb767085008d183f89ccdd289c, 3e796097404e325fa8d4f48a2af61f2e01e3ef02, 3.14.41unaffected
LinuxLinux3.15, 0, 6.1.29, 6.2.16, 6.3.3, 6.4affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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