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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53852: nvme-core: fix memory leak in dhchap_secret_store

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvme-core: fix memory leak in dhchap_secret_store Free dhchap_secret in nvme_ctrl_dhchap_secret_store() before we return fix following kmemleack:- unreferenced object 0xffff8886376ea800 (size 64): comm "check", pid 22048, jiffies 4344316705 (age 92.199s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 44 48 48 43 2d 31 3a 30 30 3a 6e 78 72 35 4b 67 DHHC-1:00:nxr5Kg 75 58 34 75 6f 41 78 73 4a 61 34 63 2f 68 75 4c uX4uoAxsJa4c/huL backtrace: [<0000000030ce5d4b>] __kmalloc+0x4b/0x130 [<000000009be1cdc1>] nvme_ctrl_dhchap_secret_store+0x8f/0x160 [nvme_core] [<00000000ac06c96a>] kernfs_fop_write_iter+0x12b/0x1c0 [<00000000437e7ced>] vfs_write+0x2ba/0x3c0 [<00000000f9491baf>] ksys_write+0x5f/0xe0 [<000000001c46513d>] do_syscall_64+0x3b/0x90 [<00000000ecf348fe>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x72/0xdc unreferenced object 0xffff8886376eaf00 (size 64): comm "check", pid 22048, jiffies 4344316736 (age 92.168s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 44 48 48 43 2d 31 3a 30 30 3a 6e 78 72 35 4b 67 DHHC-1:00:nxr5Kg 75 58 34 75 6f 41 78 73 4a 61 34 63 2f 68 75 4c uX4uoAxsJa4c/huL backtrace: [<0000000030ce5d4b>] __kmalloc+0x4b/0x130 [<000000009be1cdc1>] nvme_ctrl_dhchap_secret_store+0x8f/0x160 [nvme_core] [<00000000ac06c96a>] kernfs_fop_write_iter+0x12b/0x1c0 [<00000000437e7ced>] vfs_write+0x2ba/0x3c0 [<00000000f9491baf>] ksys_write+0x5f/0xe0 [<000000001c46513d>] do_syscall_64+0x3b/0x90 [<00000000ecf348fe>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x72/0xdc

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This CVE is a Linux kernel memory leak in NVMe authentication secret handling. Repeated writes to the DH-HMAC-CHAP secret path could leave small kernel memory allocations unfreed. The source does not show data theft, privilege escalation, or confirmed exploitation, but affected storage hosts should still receive kernel fixes.

Executive priority

Handle through normal kernel patch management, with higher priority for Linux storage infrastructure using NVMe authentication. Current evidence does not justify emergency response, but unresolved kernel leaks can affect availability over time.

Technical view

The issue is in nvme-core, specifically nvme_ctrl_dhchap_secret_store(). The vulnerable path allocated dhchap_secret and returned without freeing it, producing kmemleak reports from kernfs/sysfs write handling. Upstream stable commits fix the leak by freeing dhchap_secret before return.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using affected kernel versions or downstream builds with NVMe core DH-HMAC-CHAP secret handling. The source lists Linux kernel version ranges around 6.0 through 6.5, but distribution backports require vendor mapping.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied bundle, and no cited source reports active exploitation. The evidence supports a local kernel memory leak condition, not a confirmed remote compromise path.

Researcher notes

The public bundle provides commit references and a kmemleak trace, but no CVSS, CWE, exploit details, or vendor-specific package matrix. Validate impact by source review and downstream kernel advisory mapping rather than version strings alone.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a kernel update containing the referenced nvme-core stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for downstream backport status.
  • Prioritize hosts using NVMe authentication or storage control workflows.
  • Treat workaround status as unknown unless vendor guidance says otherwise.
  • Monitor affected hosts for unusual kernel memory pressure until patched.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux storage hosts.
  • Map vendor kernel packages to the referenced upstream stable commits.
  • Check whether NVMe core and DH-HMAC-CHAP workflows are in use.
  • Review kernel logs and leak detection output for related nvme_core traces.
  • Confirm patched systems include the dhchap_secret free-on-return fix.
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.

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CVE-2023-53852 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
LinuxLinuxf50fff73d620cd6e8f48bc58d4f1c944615a3fea, f50fff73d620cd6e8f48bc58d4f1c944615a3fea, f50fff73d620cd6e8f48bc58d4f1c944615a3fea, f50fff73d620cd6e8f48bc58d4f1c944615a3feaunaffected
LinuxLinux6.0, 0, 6.1.39, 6.3.13, 6.4.4, 6.5affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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