# CVE-2023-52491: media: mtk-jpeg: Fix use after free bug due to error path handling in mtk_jpeg_dec_device_run

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's MediaTek JPEG decoder driver allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges via race conditions.

- **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:** 29 Feb 2024
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2023-52491, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-52491, GHSA-2vrm-jm55-jg94, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-52491

## What is CVE-2023-52491?

CVE-2023-52491 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 29 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: mtk-jpeg: Fix use after free bug due to error path handling in mtk_jpeg_dec_device_run

In mtk_jpeg_probe, &jpeg->job_timeout_work is bound with
mtk_jpeg_job_timeout_work.

In mtk_jpeg_dec_device_run, if error happens in
mtk_jpeg_set_dec_dst, it will finally start the worker while
mark the job as finished by invoking v4l2_m2m_job_finish.

There are two methods to trigger the bug. If we remove the
module, it which will call mtk_jpeg_remove to make cleanup.
The possible sequence is as follows, which will cause a
use-after-free bug.

CPU0                  CPU1
mtk_jpeg_dec_...    |
  start worker	    |
                    |mtk_jpeg_job_timeout_work
mtk_jpeg_remove     |
  v4l2_m2m_release  |
    kfree(m2m_dev); |
                    |
                    | v4l2_m2m_get_curr_priv
                    |   m2m_dev->curr_ctx //use

If we close the file descriptor, which will call mtk_jpeg_release,
it will have a similar sequence.

Fix this bug by starting timeout worker only if started jpegdec worker
successfully. Then v4l2_m2m_job_finish will only be called in
either mtk_jpeg_job_timeout_work or mtk_jpeg_dec_device_run.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-52491?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-52491?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-52491 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-52491 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-2023-52491 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-52491 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 29 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-2023-52491 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-2023-52491/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52491/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-52491
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-52491
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-52491

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52491/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.