CVE-2023-53716 net: fix skb leak in __skb_tstamp_tx()
A memory leak in the Linux kernel network stack allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by triggering specific transmission timestamp conditions.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2023-53716?
CVE-2023-53716 is a denial of service vulnerability in Linux, published on 22 Oct 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: fix skb leak in __skb_tstamp_tx()
Commit 50749f2dd685 ("tcp/udp: Fix memleaks of sk and zerocopy skbs with TX timestamp.") added a call to skb_orphan_frags_rx() to fix leaks with zerocopy skbs. But it ended up adding a leak of its own. When skb_orphan_frags_rx() fails, the function just returns, leaking the skb it just cloned. Free it before returning.
This bug was discovered and resolved using Coverity Static Analysis Security Testing (SAST) by Synopsys, Inc.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53716?
How do I fix CVE-2023-53716?
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-2023-53716 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53716 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53716, GHSA-rxxr-3f5p-3hc6, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53716.