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🛡️ CVE-2023-53446 — kernel

🟠 CVSS 7.8 — High ✅ No Known Exploit NVD
7.8
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

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

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]

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached with local access to the system, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs low-level privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability high.

CVSS metrics in full

The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

  • Attack vector: Local — a local account, shell or session on the host is needed.
  • Attack complexity: Low — the attack works reliably, with no preparation.
  • Privileges required: Low — an ordinary user account is enough.
  • User interaction: None — nobody has to be tricked into anything.
  • Scope: Unchanged — the damage stays inside the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.
  • Integrity impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.
  • Availability impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.

Affected software

CVE-2023-53446 is recorded against 2 packages.

  • kernel (from 6.4.0 up to 6.4.4)
  • linux-kernel (from 6.4 up to 6.4.4)

Timeline and source

Published on 18 September 2025 and last revised on 12 August 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. A vendor advisory or fix has been published. Record sourced from NVD.

References

git.kernel.org (Web)
git.kernel.org (Web)
git.kernel.org (Web)
git.kernel.org (Web)
git.kernel.org (Web)
git.kernel.org (Web)
git.kernel.org (Web)
github.com (Advisory)
nvd.nist.gov (Advisory)
git.kernel.org (Package)

Other advisories for this package

kernel has other advisories on record. If you are patching this one, these are worth checking on the same host:

CVE-2023-53446 on other distributions

Each distribution ships its own build and its own fixed version. Pick the one you run:

Details

Severity High
CVSS Score 7.8
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CWE N/A
Public Exploit ✅ No
Source NVD
Published 2025-09-18
Updated 2026-08-20
Modified 2026-08-12

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
kernel 6.4.0 6.4.4
linux-kernel 6.4 6.4.4

Similar Threats

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