CVE-2023-53518 PM / devfreq: Fix leak in devfreq_dev_release()
A memory leak in the Linux kernel's devfreq subsystem can lead to resource exhaustion and denial of service.
- 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
What is CVE-2023-53518?
CVE-2023-53518 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 1 Oct 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:
PM / devfreq: Fix leak in devfreq_dev_release()
srcu_init_notifier_head() allocates resources that need to be released with a srcu_cleanup_notifier_head() call.
Reported by kmemleak.
Weakness: CWE-401
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53518?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2023-53518?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, then put limits on request size, rate and nesting depth so one client cannot exhaust the service. More about Denial of service.
Is CVE-2023-53518 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53518 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-53518, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53518, GHSA-x97q-xc6x-vxw7, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53518.