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Medium · 5.5 CVE-2023-53234 EUVD-2023-59850GHSA-44g3-hwmh-jx63

watchdog: Fix kmemleak in watchdog_cdev_register

Published Sep 15, 2025 · Updated May 23, 2026 · Assigned by Linux

Vendor: Linux Product: Linux Package: linux Package: linux Package: linux-allwinner-5.19 Package: linux-aws Package: linux-aws-5.0 Package: linux-aws-5.11 Package: linux-aws-5.13 Package: linux-aws-5.15 Package: linux-aws-5.19 Package: linux-aws-5.3 Package: linux-aws-5.4 Package: linux-aws-5.8 Package: linux-aws-6.2 Package: linux-aws-6.5 Package: linux-aws-fips Package: linux-aws-hwe Package: linux-azure Package: linux-azure-4.15 Package: linux-azure-5.11 Package: linux-azure-5.13 Package: linux-azure-5.15 Package: linux-azure-5.19 Package: linux-azure-5.3 Package: linux-azure-5.4 Package: linux-azure-5.8 Package: linux-azure-6.11 Package: linux-azure-6.2 Package: linux-azure-6.5 Package: linux-azure-edge Package: linux-azure-fde Package: linux-azure-fde-5.19 Package: linux-azure-fde-6.2 Package: linux-azure-fips Package: linux-bluefield Package: linux-fips Package: linux-gcp Package: linux-gcp-4.15 Package: linux-gcp-5.11 Package: linux-gcp-5.13 Package: linux-gcp-5.15 Package: linux-gcp-5.19 Package: linux-gcp-5.3 Package: linux-gcp-5.4 Package: linux-gcp-5.8 Package: linux-gcp-6.11 Package: linux-gcp-6.2 Package: linux-gcp-6.5 Package: linux-gcp-fips Package: linux-gke Package: linux-gke-4.15 Package: linux-gke-5.15 Package: linux-gke-5.4 Package: linux-gkeop Package: linux-gkeop-5.15 Package: linux-gkeop-5.4 Package: linux-hwe Package: linux-hwe-5.11 Package: linux-hwe-5.13 Package: linux-hwe-5.15 Package: linux-hwe-5.19 Package: linux-hwe-5.4 Package: linux-hwe-5.8 Package: linux-hwe-6.11 Package: linux-hwe-6.2 Package: linux-hwe-6.5 Package: linux-hwe-edge Package: linux-ibm Package: linux-ibm-5.15 Package: linux-ibm-5.4 Package: linux-intel Package: linux-intel-5.13 Package: linux-intel-iot-realtime Package: linux-intel-iotg Package: linux-intel-iotg-5.15 Package: linux-iot Package: linux-kvm Package: linux-lowlatency Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 Package: linux-nvidia Package: linux-nvidia-6.2 Package: linux-nvidia-6.5 Package: linux-nvidia-tegra Package: linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 Package: linux-nvidia-tegra-igx Package: linux-oem Package: linux-oem-5.10 Package: linux-oem-5.13 Package: linux-oem-5.14 Package: linux-oem-5.17 Package: linux-oem-5.6 Package: linux-oem-6.0 Package: linux-oem-6.1 Package: linux-oem-6.11 Package: linux-oem-6.5 Package: linux-oem-6.8 Package: linux-oracle Package: linux-oracle-5.0 Package: linux-oracle-5.11 Package: linux-oracle-5.13 Package: linux-oracle-5.15 Package: linux-oracle-5.3 Package: linux-oracle-5.4 Package: linux-oracle-5.8 Package: linux-oracle-6.5 Package: linux-raspi Package: linux-raspi-5.4 Package: linux-raspi-realtime Package: linux-raspi2 Package: linux-realtime Package: linux-riscv Package: linux-riscv-5.11 Package: linux-riscv-5.15 Package: linux-riscv-5.19 Package: linux-riscv-5.8 Package: linux-riscv-6.5 Package: linux-starfive-5.19 Package: linux-starfive-6.2 Package: linux-starfive-6.5 Package: linux-vmware Package: linux-xilinx-zynqmp Platform: Linux Ecosystem: Debian Ecosystem: Ubuntu

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

watchdog: Fix kmemleak in watchdog_cdev_register

kmemleak reports memory leaks in watchdog_dev_register, as follows:
unreferenced object 0xffff888116233000 (size 2048):
comm ""modprobe"", pid 28147, jiffies 4353426116 (age 61.741s)
hex dump (first 32 bytes):
80 fa b9 05 81 88 ff ff 08 30 23 16 81 88 ff ff .........0#.....
08 30 23 16 81 88 ff ff 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 .0#.............
backtrace:
[<000000007f001ffd>] __kmem_cache_alloc_node+0x157/0x220
[<000000006a389304>] kmalloc_trace+0x21/0x110
[<000000008d640eea>] watchdog_dev_register+0x4e/0x780 [watchdog]
[<0000000053c9f248>] __watchdog_register_device+0x4f0/0x680 [watchdog]
[<00000000b2979824>] watchdog_register_device+0xd2/0x110 [watchdog]
[<000000001f730178>] 0xffffffffc10880ae
[<000000007a1a8bcc>] do_one_initcall+0xcb/0x4d0
[<00000000b98be325>] do_init_module+0x1ca/0x5f0
[<0000000046d08e7c>] load_module+0x6133/0x70f0
...

unreferenced object 0xffff888105b9fa80 (size 16):
comm ""modprobe"", pid 28147, jiffies 4353426116 (age 61.741s)
hex dump (first 16 bytes):
77 61 74 63 68 64 6f 67 31 00 b9 05 81 88 ff ff watchdog1.......
backtrace:
[<000000007f001ffd>] __kmem_cache_alloc_node+0x157/0x220
[<00000000486ab89b>] __kmalloc_node_track_caller+0x44/0x1b0
[<000000005a39aab0>] kvasprintf+0xb5/0x140
[<0000000024806f85>] kvasprintf_const+0x55/0x180
[<000000009276cb7f>] kobject_set_name_vargs+0x56/0x150
[<00000000a92e820b>] dev_set_name+0xab/0xe0
[<00000000cec812c6>] watchdog_dev_register+0x285/0x780 [watchdog]
[<0000000053c9f248>] __watchdog_register_device+0x4f0/0x680 [watchdog]
[<00000000b2979824>] watchdog_register_device+0xd2/0x110 [watchdog]
[<000000001f730178>] 0xffffffffc10880ae
[<000000007a1a8bcc>] do_one_initcall+0xcb/0x4d0
[<00000000b98be325>] do_init_module+0x1ca/0x5f0
[<0000000046d08e7c>] load_module+0x6133/0x70f0
...

The reason is that put_device is not be called if cdev_device_add fails
and wdd->id != 0.

watchdog_cdev_register
wd_data = kzalloc [1]
err = dev_set_name [2]
..
err = cdev_device_add
if (err) {
if (wdd->id == 0) { // wdd->id != 0
..
}
return err; // [1],[2] would be leaked

To fix it, call put_device in all wdd->id cases.

Affected products

VendorProductAffectedFixed
Linux Linux 4.14.182 – < 4.14.308, 4.19.93 – < 4.19.276, 5.4.8 – < 5.4.235, 4.9.225 – < 4.10, 5.5 4.14.308

Fixed in Linux distributions

Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian 14 linux 6.1.20-1 —
Debian 13 linux 6.1.20-1 —
Debian 12 linux 6.1.20-1 —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 22.04 LTS linux-bluefield 5.15.0-1022.24 —
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-intel +9 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux 5.15.0-79.86 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-aws 5.15.0-1042.47 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-azure 5.15.0-1045.52 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-azure-fde 5.15.0-1045.52.1 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-gcp 5.15.0-1039.47 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-gke +1 5.15.0-1039.44 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-gkeop 5.15.0-1025.30 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-ibm +1 5.15.0-1035.38 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-intel-iotg 5.15.0-1037.42 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-lowlatency 5.15.0-79.88 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-nvidia 5.15.0-1030.30 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-nvidia-tegra 5.15.0-1016.16 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-nvidia-tegra-igx 5.15.0-1002.2 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-oracle 5.15.0-1040.46 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-riscv +32 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-xilinx-zynqmp 5.15.0-1025.29 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux 5.4.0-152.169 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-aws 5.4.0-1104.112 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-aws-5.15 5.15.0-1041.46~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-azure 5.4.0-1110.116 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-azure-5.15 5.15.0-1045.52~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-bluefield 5.4.0-1065.71 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gcp 5.4.0-1107.116 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gcp-5.15 5.15.0-1039.47~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gke +28 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-hwe-5.15 5.15.0-79.86~20.04.2 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-ibm 5.4.0-1051.56 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-ibm-5.15 5.15.0-1036.39~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-intel-iotg-5.15 5.15.0-1037.42~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-iot 5.4.0-1017.18 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-kvm 5.4.0-1093.99 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 5.15.0-79.88~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 5.15.0-1016.16~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-oracle 5.4.0-1103.112 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-oracle-5.15 5.15.0-1040.46~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-raspi 5.4.0-1088.99 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-riscv-5.15 5.15.0-1038.42~20.04.2 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-xilinx-zynqmp 5.4.0-1024.28 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-gcp +14 No fix yet —
Show 10 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS linux-hwe-edge No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS linux-intel-iot-realtime 5.15.0-1036.38 —
Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS linux-realtime 5.15.0-1043.48 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS linux-fips No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-aws-fips 5.4.0-1104.112+fips1 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-azure-fips 5.4.0-1110.116+fips1 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-fips 5.4.0-1079.88 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-gcp-fips 5.4.0-1107.116+fips1 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-preview 22.04 LTS linux-fips No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS linux +5 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS linux-aws-5.4 5.4.0-1104.112~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS linux-azure-5.4 5.4.0-1110.116~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS linux-gcp-5.4 5.4.0-1107.116~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS linux-hwe-5.4 5.4.0-152.169~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS linux-ibm-5.4 5.4.0-1051.56~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS linux-oracle-5.4 5.4.0-1103.112~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS linux-raspi-5.4 5.4.0-1088.99~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-gcp +4 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS linux-azure No fix yet —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
SLES 15 SP5 kernel-64kb +6 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03615-1
SLES 15 SP5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1.150500.6.59.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03615-1
SLES 15 SP4 kernel-64kb +6 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SLES 15 SP4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
Show 11 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
SLES for SAP 15 SP5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1.150500.6.59.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03615-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP5 kernel-docs +4 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03615-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP4 kernel-docs +4 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SLE Micro 5.5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1.150500.6.59.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03615-1
SLE Micro 5.5 kernel-rt +1 5.14.21-150500.13.109.1 SUSE-SU-2025:3761-1
SLE Micro 5.5 kernel-source +1 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03615-1
SLE Micro 5.4 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SLE Micro 5.4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SLE Micro 5.4 kernel-rt +1 5.14.21-150400.15.133.1 SUSE-SU-2025:3716-1
SLE Micro 5.3 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SLE Micro 5.3 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SLE Micro 5.3 kernel-rt +1 5.14.21-150400.15.133.1 SUSE-SU-2025:3716-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-default 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03615-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5_Update_31 1-150500.11.3.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03615-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP4_Update_45 1-150400.9.3.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SLE HPC 15 SP5 kernel-64kb +5 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03615-1
SLE HPC 15 SP5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.124.1.150500.6.59.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03615-1
SLE HPC 15 SP4 kernel-64kb +5 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SLE HPC 15 SP4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SUSE Manager Server LTS 4.3 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SUSE Manager Server LTS 4.3 kernel-syms +3 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SUSE Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1.150400.24.92.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1
SUSE Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 kernel-syms +2 5.14.21-150400.24.179.1 SUSE-SU-2025:03628-1

Amazon Linux

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Amazon Linux 2023 kernel-livepatch-6.1.19-30.43 1.0-0.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2023-138
Amazon Linux 2023 perf +12 6.1.19-30.43.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2023-138
Amazon Linux 2 kernel-livepatch-4.14.309-231.529 1.0-0.amzn2 ALAS2-2023-1987
Amazon Linux 2 perf +8 4.14.309-231.529.amzn2 ALAS2-2023-1987

Advisories 7

References