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CVE Record

CVE-2023-54078: media: max9286: Free control handler

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: max9286: Free control handler The control handler is leaked in some probe-time error paths, as well as in the remove path. Fix it.

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 covers a Linux kernel cleanup bug in the max9286 media driver. In some startup failure paths and during removal, a control handler was not freed, causing a resource leak. The supplied sources do not show active exploitation, CVSS scoring, or broad impact beyond the affected kernel code path.

Executive priority

Treat this as routine kernel maintenance unless asset inventory shows critical systems using the max9286 media driver. The business urgency is currently limited by missing severity data, no KEV listing, and no cited exploitation evidence.

Technical view

The Linux kernel media max9286 driver leaked its control handler in some probe-time error paths and in the remove path. Stable kernel commits fix the issue by freeing that handler. The bundle lists affected Linux versions including 5.9 through 6.4 and fixed stable commits, but does not provide CVSS, CWE, or exploitability detail.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel versions where the max9286 media driver is built, loaded, or used. Systems without this driver or hardware path appear less likely to be exposed, but confirm through kernel configuration, module inventory, and vendor backport notes.

Exploitation context

The source bundle marks KEV as false and provides no evidence of active exploitation or public weaponization. The described issue is a resource leak in driver initialization and removal paths, not a documented remote code execution or privilege escalation flaw in the provided sources.

Researcher notes

Analysis is constrained by sparse public detail. The fix addresses a leaked control handler in probe failure and remove paths. Further assessment should focus on whether repeated bind, probe failure, or removal conditions can cause meaningful resource exhaustion in real deployments.

Mitigation direction

  • Map deployed kernels to the affected version list in the CVE record.
  • Check distribution or kernel vendor advisories for fixed builds containing the referenced stable commits.
  • Prioritize updates on systems where the max9286 driver is enabled or used.
  • If no vendor fix is available, follow vendor guidance for temporary risk reduction.
  • Regression test media hardware workflows after kernel updates.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm the running kernel version and distribution backport status.
  • Check kernel configuration or module inventory for the max9286 driver.
  • Verify the relevant stable commit or vendor equivalent appears in source or changelog.
  • Review update testing for boot, driver load, and device removal behavior.
  • Document systems where the driver is absent or unreachable.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

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-2023-54078 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
7Source 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
LinuxLinux66d8c9d2422da21ed41f75c03ba0685987b65fe0, 66d8c9d2422da21ed41f75c03ba0685987b65fe0, 66d8c9d2422da21ed41f75c03ba0685987b65fe0, 66d8c9d2422da21ed41f75c03ba0685987b65fe0, 66d8c9d2422da21ed41f75c03ba0685987b65fe0, 66d8c9d2422da21ed41f75c03ba0685987b65fe0unaffected
LinuxLinux5.9, 0, 5.10.180, 5.15.111, 6.1.28, 6.2.15, 6.3.2, 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.