# CVE-2023-53446: PCI/ASPM: Disable ASPM on MFD function removal to avoid use-after-free

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's PCI/ASPM subsystem allows local attackers to cause a system crash by removing a PCI function and changing power policies.

- **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:** 18 Sep 2025
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2023-53446, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53446, GHSA-62j3-36wr-4gw5, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53446

## What is CVE-2023-53446?

CVE-2023-53446 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 18 Sep 2025. 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:

PCI/ASPM: Disable ASPM on MFD function removal to avoid use-after-free

Struct pcie_link_state->downstream is a pointer to the pci_dev of function
0.  Previously we retained that pointer when removing function 0, and
subsequent ASPM policy changes dereferenced it, resulting in a
use-after-free warning from KASAN, e.g.:

  # echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:03:00.0/remove
  # echo powersave > /sys/module/pcie_aspm/parameters/policy

  BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in pcie_config_aspm_link+0x42d/0x500
  Call Trace:
   kasan_report+0xae/0xe0
   pcie_config_aspm_link+0x42d/0x500
   pcie_aspm_set_policy+0x8e/0x1a0
   param_attr_store+0x162/0x2c0
   module_attr_store+0x3e/0x80

PCIe spec r6.0, sec 7.5.3.7, recommends that software program the same ASPM
Control value in all functions of multi-function devices.

Disable ASPM and free the pcie_link_state when any child function is
removed so we can discard the dangling pcie_link_state->downstream pointer
and maintain the same ASPM Control configuration for all functions.

[bhelgaas: commit log and comment]

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53446?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-53446?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-53446 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53446 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-2023-53446 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-53446 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 18 Sep 2025. 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-2023-53446 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-2023-53446/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-53446/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-53446
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-53446
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-53446

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-53446/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.