Use After Free in Linux
CVE-2023-53638
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: octeon_ep: cancel queued works in probe error path If it fails to get the devices's MAC address, octep_probe exits while leaving the delayed work intr_poll_task queued. When the work later runs, it's a use after free. Move the cancelation of intr_poll_task from octep_remove into octep_device_cleanup. This does not change anything in the octep_remove flow, but octep_device_cleanup is called also in the octep_probe error path, where the cancelation is needed. Note that the cancelation of ctrl_mbox_task has to follow intr_poll_task's, because the ctrl_mbox_task may be queued by intr_poll_task.
Vulnerability class: Use-After-Free
Published · last modified .
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 7.0 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
EPSS exploit prediction
EPSS: 0.001 (2.7th percentile), scored .
Very low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days; routine patching cadence is appropriate. 3rd percentile — 2.7% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.
EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.001 · newest: 0.001 · change: +0.000
Affected products
- Linux — versions 24d4333233b378114106a1327d3d635a004f4387, 6.4, 0
- Linux Kernel — versions 6.5
Weakness classification (CWE)
References
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2023-53638?
- CVE-2023-53638 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux, classified under Use After Free. CVSS score: 7.0/10. Published 2025-10-07.
- How severe is CVE-2023-53638?
- High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.0 out of 10.