CVE-2023-53544 cpufreq: davinci: Fix clk use after free
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's cpufreq driver allows attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges via race conditions.
- 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-2023-53544?
CVE-2023-53544 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 4 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:
cpufreq: davinci: Fix clk use after free
The remove function first frees the clks and only then calls cpufreq_unregister_driver(). If one of the cpufreq callbacks is called just before cpufreq_unregister_driver() is run, the freed clks might be used.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53544?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2023-53544?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2023-53544 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53544 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-53544, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53544, GHSA-3cqr-ghj9-p46w, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2023-53544, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2023-53544, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53544.