CVE-2023-53515

HIGH

Linux Kernel 4.15.1-4.19.293 - Use-After-Free in virtio-mmio vm_dev Lifecycle

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: virtio-mmio: don't break lifecycle of vm_dev vm_dev has a separate lifecycle because it has a 'struct device' embedded. Thus, having a release callback for it is correct. Allocating the vm_dev struct with devres totally breaks this protection, though. Instead of waiting for the vm_dev release callback, the memory is freed when the platform_device is removed. Resulting in a use-after-free when finally the callback is to be called. To easily see the problem, compile the kernel with CONFIG_DEBUG_KOBJECT_RELEASE and unbind with sysfs. The fix is easy, don't use devres in this case. Found during my research about object lifetime problems.

Scores

CVSS v3 7.8
EPSS 0.0014
EPSS Percentile 3.6%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

CWE
CWE-416
Status published
Products (19)
Linux/Linux < 4.15
Linux/Linux 4.15
Linux/Linux 4.19.293 - 4.19.*
Linux/Linux 5.10.192 - 5.10.*
Linux/Linux 5.15.128 - 5.15.*
Linux/Linux 5.4.255 - 5.4.*
Linux/Linux 6.1.47 - 6.1.*
Linux/Linux 6.4.12 - 6.4.*
Linux/Linux 6.5
Linux/Linux 7eb781b1bbb7136fe78fb8c28c1c223c61fa32b5 - 2dcb368fe5a8eee498ca75c93a18ce2f3b0d6a8e
... and 9 more
Published Oct 01, 2025
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026