CVE-2026-53384: Linux kernel · serial: 8250_dw: unregister 8250 port if clk_notifier_register() fails
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical · fixed in d72650a4f334581b23a1892b888a4cb1be142f76 : patch Linux kernel as a priority.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 43% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- No evidence of active exploitation and no public proof of concept
- Automatable
- Attackers can reliably automate steps 1–4 of the kill chain
- Technical impact
- Total control over the software or total information disclosure
CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-10-16.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in d72650a4f334581b23a1892b888a4cb1be142f76, ccdf4510a3873b14e5e348cdb038717996f09fda, 778b9dda4b24005a27bcd9c35c110bf8d7f259ca +4
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 19 Jul 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: serial: 8250_dw: unregister 8250 port if clk_notifier_register() fails dw8250_probe() registers the 8250 port via serial8250_register_8250_port() and then, if the device has a clock, registers a clock notifier. If clk_notifier_register() fails, probe returns the error but leaves the 8250 port registered. The matching serial8250_unregister_port() lives in dw8250_remove(), which is not called when probe fails, so the port slot stays occupied until the device is rebound or the system is rebooted. The devm-allocated driver data is freed while the port still references it (via the saved private_data and serial_in/serial_out callbacks), so any access to that port slot before a rebind is a use-after-free hazard. Unregister the port on the clk_notifier_register() error path.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ccdf4510a3873b14e5e348cdb038717996f09fda (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/511d2b92f8d20de04acafab676150d26fb5c67f4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/07ffe414a708ae60551401cec5d727ed156b8caf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3d205fe80f2181f0109150ad1fa06ee5bc046935 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d72650a4f334581b23a1892b888a4cb1be142f76 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/778b9dda4b24005a27bcd9c35c110bf8d7f259ca (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/10fc708b4de7f86002d2d735a2dbf3b5b7f65692 (opens in a new tab)