driver core: fix resource leak in device_add()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: driver core: fix resource leak in device_add() When calling kobject_add() failed in device_add(), it will call cleanup_glue_dir() to free resource. But in kobject_add(), dev->kobj.parent has been set to NULL. This will cause resource leak. The process is as follows: device_add() get_device_parent() class_dir_create_and_add() kobject_add() //kobject_get() ... dev->kobj.parent = kobj; ... kobject_add() //failed, but set dev->kobj.parent = NULL ... glue_dir = get_glue_dir(dev) //glue_dir = NULL, and goto //"Error" label ... cleanup_glue_dir() //becaues glue_dir is NULL, not call //kobject_put() The preceding problem may cause insmod mac80211_hwsim.ko to failed. sysfs: cannot create duplicate filename '/devices/virtual/mac80211_hwsim' Call Trace: dump_stack_lvl+0x8e/0xd1 sysfs_warn_dup.cold+0x1c/0x29 sysfs_create_dir_ns+0x224/0x280 kobject_add_internal+0x2aa/0x880 kobject_add+0x135/0x1a0 get_device_parent+0x3d7/0x590 device_add+0x2aa/0x1cb0 device_create_groups_vargs+0x1eb/0x260 device_create+0xdc/0x110 mac80211_hwsim_new_radio+0x31e/0x4790 [mac80211_hwsim] init_mac80211_hwsim+0x48d/0x1000 [mac80211_hwsim] do_one_initcall+0x10f/0x630 do_init_module+0x19f/0x5e0 load_module+0x64b7/0x6eb0 __do_sys_finit_module+0x140/0x200 do_syscall_64+0x35/0x80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x46/0xb0 kobject_add_internal failed for mac80211_hwsim with -EEXIST, don't try to register things with the same name in the same directory.
- Products
- Kernel
- Affected versions
- Not specified
- Fixed versions
- 5.15.99, 6.1.16, 6.2.3
- CVEs
- CVE-2023-53594
- Confirmed fixed CVEs
- Not specified
- Updated in this feed
- 5 Nov 2026, 02:01 UTC · Revision 1
Source evidence
driver core: fix resource leak in device_add()
core-osv · Original sourcePublished 4 Oct 2025, 15:44 UTC
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: driver core: fix resource leak in device_add() When calling kobject_add() failed in device_add(), it will call cleanup_glue_dir() to free resource. But in kobject_add(), dev->kobj.parent has been set to NULL. This will cause resource leak. The process is as follows: device_add() get_device_parent() class_dir_create_and_add() kobject_add() //kobject_get() ... dev->kobj.parent = kobj; ... kobject_add() //failed, but set dev->kobj.parent = NULL ... glue_dir = get_glue_dir(dev) //glue_dir = NULL, and goto //"Error" label ... cleanup_glue_dir() //becaues glue_dir is NULL, not call //kobject_put() The preceding problem may cause insmod mac80211_hwsim.ko to failed. sysfs: cannot create duplicate filename '/devices/virtual/mac80211_hwsim' Call Trace: dump_stack_lvl+0x8e/0xd1 sysfs_warn_dup.cold+0x1c/0x29 sysfs_create_dir_ns+0x224/0x280 kobject_add_internal+0x2aa/0x880 kobject_add+0x135/0x1a0 get_device_parent+0x3d7/0x590 device_add+0x2aa/0x1cb0 device_create_groups_vargs+0x1eb/0x260 device_create+0xdc/0x110 mac80211_hwsim_new_radio+0x31e/0x4790 [mac80211_hwsim] init_mac80211_hwsim+0x48d/0x1000 [mac80211_hwsim] do_one_initcall+0x10f/0x630 do_init_module+0x19f/0x5e0 load_module+0x64b7/0x6eb0 __do_sys_finit_module+0x140/0x200 do_syscall_64+0x35/0x80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x46/0xb0 kobject_add_internal failed for mac80211_hwsim with -EEXIST, don't try to register things with the same name in the same directory.
osv:CVE-2023-53594
Kernel
Fixed versions: 5.15.99, 6.1.16, 6.2.3
Complete source record
{
"id": "4dacf1dbf34448844817ab65c8bd82f9b38969c71741de91e244237730a9b76d",
"url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-53594",
"method": "structured",
"payload": {
"kind": "advisory",
"title": "driver core: fix resource leak in device_add()",
"summary": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: driver core: fix resource leak in device_add() When calling kobject_add() failed in device_add(), it will call cleanup_glue_dir() to free resource. But in kobject_add(), dev->kobj.parent has been set to NULL. This will cause resource leak. The process is as follows: device_add() get_device_parent() class_dir_create_and_add() kobject_add() //kobject_get() ... dev->kobj.parent = kobj; ... kobject_add() //failed, but set dev->kobj.parent = NULL ... glue_dir = get_glue_dir(dev) //glue_dir = NULL, and goto //\"Error\" label ... cleanup_glue_dir() //becaues glue_dir is NULL, not call //kobject_put() The preceding problem may cause insmod mac80211_hwsim.ko to failed. sysfs: cannot create duplicate filename '/devices/virtual/mac80211_hwsim' Call Trace: dump_stack_lvl+0x8e/0xd1 sysfs_warn_dup.cold+0x1c/0x29 sysfs_create_dir_ns+0x224/0x280 kobject_add_internal+0x2aa/0x880 kobject_add+0x135/0x1a0 get_device_parent+0x3d7/0x590 device_add+0x2aa/0x1cb0 device_create_groups_vargs+0x1eb/0x260 device_create+0xdc/0x110 mac80211_hwsim_new_radio+0x31e/0x4790 [mac80211_hwsim] init_mac80211_hwsim+0x48d/0x1000 [mac80211_hwsim] do_one_initcall+0x10f/0x630 do_init_module+0x19f/0x5e0 load_module+0x64b7/0x6eb0 __do_sys_finit_module+0x140/0x200 do_syscall_64+0x35/0x80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x46/0xb0 kobject_add_internal failed for mac80211_hwsim with -EEXIST, don't try to register things with the same name in the same directory.",
"evidence": "osv:CVE-2023-53594",
"products": [
{
"name": {
"value": "Kernel",
"evidence": "/affected/1/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [
{
"value": "5.15.99",
"evidence": "/affected/1/ranges"
},
{
"value": "6.1.16",
"evidence": "/affected/1/ranges"
},
{
"value": "6.2.3",
"evidence": "/affected/1/ranges"
}
],
"affected_versions": []
}
],
"severity": "unknown",
"structured": {
"id": "CVE-2023-53594",
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-53594"
],
"affected": [
{
"ranges": [
{
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"type": "GIT",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "cebf8fd16900fdfd58c0028617944f808f97fe50"
},
{
"fixed": "8d389e363075c2e1deb84a560686ea92123e4b8b"
},
{
"fixed": "d1dbff10c6cd3b43457f3efd3c9c4950009635bf"
},
{
"fixed": "f39d21154db87545d8f0b25d13c326f37cc32239"
},
{
"fixed": "6977b1a5d67097eaa4d02b0c126c04cc6e8917c0"
}
]
},
{
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"type": "GIT",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "3.10.105"
},
{
"fixed": "3.11"
}
]
},
{
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"type": "GIT",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "3.12.70"
},
{
"fixed": "3.13"
}
]
},
{
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"type": "GIT",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "4.4.40"
},
{
"fixed": "4.5"
}
]
},
{
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"type": "GIT",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "4.8.16"
},
{
"fixed": "4.9"
}
]
},
{
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"type": "GIT",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "e7f6e3c9db4b6f259c89fd05728d024ab32acd71"
}
]
},
{
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"type": "GIT",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "a93a63333dbdb182b87e8cc99df8b4474f867acb"
}
]
},
{
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"type": "GIT",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "37de955c11b59050346e530143c20b10b4846527"
}
]
},
{
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"type": "GIT",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "645897231f960590220144b06d1f994b7eb88326"
}
]
}
],
"versions": [
"v3.10.108",
"v3.10.107",
"v3.10.106",
"v3.10.105",
"v3.12.74",
"v3.12.73",
"v3.12.72",
"v3.12.71",
"v3.12.70",
"v4.4.302",
"v4.4.301",
"v4.4.300",
"v4.4.299",
"v4.4.298",
"v4.4.297",
"v4.4.296",
"v4.4.295",
"v4.4.294",
"v4.4.293",
"v4.4.292",
"v4.4.291",
"v4.4.290",
"v4.4.289",
"v4.4.288",
"v4.4.287",
"v4.4.286",
"v4.4.285",
"v4.4.284",
"v4.4.283",
"v4.4.282",
"v4.4.281",
"v4.4.280",
"v4.4.279",
"v4.4.278",
"v4.4.277",
"v4.4.276",
"v4.4.275",
"v4.4.274",
"v4.4.273",
"v4.4.272",
"v4.4.271",
"v4.4.270",
"v4.4.269",
"v4.4.268",
"v4.4.267",
"v4.4.266",
"v4.4.265",
"v4.4.264",
"v4.4.263",
"v4.4.262",
"v4.4.261",
"v4.4.260",
"v4.4.259",
"v4.4.258",
"v4.4.257",
"v4.4.256",
"v4.4.255",
"v4.4.254",
"v4.4.253",
"v4.4.252",
"v4.4.251",
"v4.4.250",
"v4.4.249",
"v4.4.248",
"v4.4.247",
"v4.4.246",
"v4.4.245",
"v4.4.244",
"v4.4.243",
"v4.4.242",
"v4.4.241",
"v4.4.240",
"v4.4.239",
"v4.4.238",
"v4.4.237",
"v4.4.236",
"v4.4.235",
"v4.4.234",
"v4.4.233",
"v4.4.232",
"v4.4.231",
"v4.4.230",
"v4.4.229",
"v4.4.228",
"v4.4.227",
"v4.4.226",
"v4.4.225",
"v4.4.224",
"v4.4.223",
"v4.4.222",
"v4.4.221",
"v4.4.220",
"v4.4.219",
"v4.4.218",
"v4.4.217",
"v4.4.216",
"v4.4.215",
"v4.4.214",
"v4.4.213",
"v4.4.212",
"v4.4.211",
"v4.4.210",
"v4.4.209",
"v4.4.208",
"v4.4.207",
"v4.4.206",
"v4.4.205",
"v4.4.204",
"v4.4.203",
"v4.4.202",
"v4.4.201",
"v4.4.200",
"v4.4.199",
"v4.4.198",
"v4.4.197",
"v4.4.196",
"v4.4.195",
"v4.4.194",
"v4.4.193",
"v4.4.192",
"v4.4.191",
"v4.4.190",
"v4.4.189",
"v4.4.188",
"v4.4.187",
"v4.4.186",
"v4.4.185",
"v4.4.184",
"v4.4.183",
"v4.4.182",
"v4.4.181",
"v4.4.180",
"v4.4.179",
"v4.4.178",
"v4.4.177",
"v4.4.176",
"v4.4.175",
"v4.4.174",
"v4.4.173",
"v4.4.172",
"v4.4.171",
"v4.4.170",
"v4.4.169",
"v4.4.168",
"v4.4.167",
"v4.4.166",
"v4.4.165",
"v4.4.164",
"v4.4.163",
"v4.4.162",
"v4.4.161",
"v4.4.160",
"v4.4.159",
"v4.4.158",
"v4.4.157",
"v4.4.156",
"v4.4.155",
"v4.4.154",
"v4.4.153",
"v4.4.152",
"v4.4.151",
"v4.4.150",
"v4.4.149",
"v4.4.148",
"v4.4.147",
"v4.4.146",
"v4.4.145",
"v4.4.144",
"v4.4.143",
"v4.4.142",
"v4.4.141",
"v4.4.140",
"v4.4.139",
"v4.4.138",
"v4.4.137",
"v4.4.136",
"v4.4.135",
"v4.4.134",
"v4.4.133",
"v4.4.132",
"v4.4.131",
"v4.4.130",
"v4.4.129",
"v4.4.128",
"v4.4.127",
"v4.4.126",
"v4.4.125",
"v4.4.124",
"v4.4.123",
"v4.4.122",
"v4.4.121",
"v4.4.120",
"v4.4.119",
"v4.4.118",
"v4.4.117",
"v4.4.116",
"v4.4.115",
"v4.4.114",
"v4.4.113",
"v4.4.112",
"v4.4.111",
"v4.4.110",
"v4.4.109",
"v4.4.108",
"v4.4.107",
"v4.4.106",
"v4.4.105",
"v4.4.104",
"v4.4.103",
"v4.4.102",
"v4.4.101",
"v4.4.100",
"v4.4.99",
"v4.4.98",
"v4.4.97",
"v4.4.96",
"v4.4.95",
"v4.4.94",
"v4.4.93",
"v4.4.92",
"v4.4.91",
"v4.4.90",
"v4.4.89",
"v4.4.88",
"v4.4.87",
"v4.4.86",
"v4.4.85",
"v4.4.84",
"v4.4.83",
"v4.4.82",
"v4.4.81",
"v4.4.80",
"v4.4.79",
"v4.4.78",
"v4.4.77",
"v4.4.76",
"v4.4.75",
"v4.4.74",
"v4.4.73",
"v4.4.72",
"v4.4.71",
"v4.4.70",
"v4.4.69",
"v4.4.68",
"v4.4.67",
"v4.4.66",
"v4.4.65",
"v4.4.64",
"v4.4.63",
"v4.4.62",
"v4.4.61",
"v4.4.60",
"v4.4.59",
"v4.4.58",
"v4.4.57",
"v4.4.56",
"v4.4.55",
"v4.4.54",
"v4.4.53",
"v4.4.52",
"v4.4.51",
"v4.4.50",
"v4.4.49",
"v4.4.48",
"v4.4.47",
"v4.4.46",
"v4.4.45",
"v4.4.44",
"v4.4.43",
"v4.4.42",
"v4.4.41",
"v4.4.40",
"v4.8.17",
"v4.8.16"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/osv-output/CVE-2023-53594.json"
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "4.9.0"
},
{
"fixed": "5.15.99"
}
]
},
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "5.16.0"
},
{
"fixed": "6.1.16"
}
]
},
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "6.2.0"
},
{
"fixed": "6.2.3"
}
]
}
],
"package": {
"name": "Kernel",
"ecosystem": "Linux"
},
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/osv-output/CVE-2023-53594.json"
}
}
],
"modified": "2026-10-28T02:30:41.938288645Z",
"provider": "osv",
"references": [
"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6977b1a5d67097eaa4d02b0c126c04cc6e8917c0",
"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8d389e363075c2e1deb84a560686ea92123e4b8b",
"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d1dbff10c6cd3b43457f3efd3c9c4950009635bf",
"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f39d21154db87545d8f0b25d13c326f37cc32239",
"https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2023/53xxx/CVE-2023-53594.json",
"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-53594",
"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git"
],
"provider_metadata": {
"cna_assigner": "Linux",
"osv_generated_from": "https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2023/53xxx/CVE-2023-53594.json"
}
},
"related_cves": [
{
"value": "CVE-2023-53594",
"evidence": "/id"
}
],
"security_relevant": true,
"severity_evidence": null
},
"source_id": "core-osv",
"document_id": 509303,
"published_at": "2025-10-04T15:44:07.533+00:00"
}