# CVE-2023-52445: media: pvrusb2: fix use after free on context disconnection

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel pvrusb2 driver allows attackers to cause denial of service or execute code via context disconnection.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 22 Feb 2024
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2023-52445, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-52445, GHSA-84fp-h279-ggmw, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-52445

## What is CVE-2023-52445?

CVE-2023-52445 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 22 Feb 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

media: pvrusb2: fix use after free on context disconnection

Upon module load, a kthread is created targeting the
pvr2_context_thread_func function, which may call pvr2_context_destroy
and thus call kfree() on the context object. However, that might happen
before the usb hub_event handler is able to notify the driver. This
patch adds a sanity check before the invalid read reported by syzbot,
within the context disconnection call stack.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-52445?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-52445?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-52445 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-52445 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-52445 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-52445 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 22 Feb 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-52445 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52445/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52445/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-52445
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-52445
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-52445

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52445/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.