CVE-2023-53354
- Published: 2025-09-17T15:15:39.403
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
skbuff: skb_segment, Call zero copy functions before using skbuff frags
Commit bf5c25d60861 (“skbuff: in skb_segment, call zerocopy functions
once per nskb”) added the call to zero copy functions in skb_segment().
The change introduced a bug in skb_segment() because skb_orphan_frags()
may possibly change the number of fragments or allocate new fragments
altogether leaving nrfrags and frag to point to the old values. This can
cause a panic with stacktrace like the one below.
[ 193.894380] BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 00000000000000bc
[ 193.895273] CPU: 13 PID: 18164 Comm: vh-net-17428 Kdump: loaded Tainted: G O 5.15.123+ #26
[ 193.903919] RIP: 0010:skb_segment+0xb0e/0x12f0
[ 194.021892] Call Trace:
[ 194.027422]
[ 194.072861] tcp_gso_segment+0x107/0x540
[ 194.082031] inet_gso_segment+0x15c/0x3d0
[ 194.090783] skb_mac_gso_segment+0x9f/0x110
[ 194.095016] __skb_gso_segment+0xc1/0x190
[ 194.103131] netem_enqueue+0x290/0xb10 [sch_netem]
[ 194.107071] dev_qdisc_enqueue+0x16/0x70
[ 194.110884] __dev_queue_xmit+0x63b/0xb30
[ 194.121670] bond_start_xmit+0x159/0x380 [bonding]
[ 194.128506] dev_hard_start_xmit+0xc3/0x1e0
[ 194.131787] __dev_queue_xmit+0x8a0/0xb30
[ 194.138225] macvlan_start_xmit+0x4f/0x100 [macvlan]
[ 194.141477] dev_hard_start_xmit+0xc3/0x1e0
[ 194.144622] sch_direct_xmit+0xe3/0x280
[ 194.147748] __dev_queue_xmit+0x54a/0xb30
[ 194.154131] tap_get_user+0x2a8/0x9c0 [tap]
[ 194.157358] tap_sendmsg+0x52/0x8e0 [tap]
[ 194.167049] handle_tx_zerocopy+0x14e/0x4c0 [vhost_net]
[ 194.173631] handle_tx+0xcd/0xe0 [vhost_net]
[ 194.176959] vhost_worker+0x76/0xb0 [vhost]
[ 194.183667] kthread+0x118/0x140
[ 194.190358] ret_from_fork+0x1f/0x30
[ 194.193670]
In this case calling skb_orphan_frags() updated nr_frags leaving nrfrags
local variable in skb_segment() stale. This resulted in the code hitting
i >= nrfrags prematurely and trying to move to next frag_skb using
list_skb pointer, which was NULL, and caused kernel panic. Move the call
to zero copy functions before using frags and nr_frags.
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How to fix CVE-2023-53354
Description: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: skbuff: skb_segment, Call zero copy functions before using skbuff frags Commit bf5c25d60861 (“skbuff: in skb_segment, call zerocopy functions once per nskb”) added the call to zero copy functions in skb_segment(). The change introduced a bug in skb_segment() because skb_orphan_frags() may possibly change the number of […]
Exploit Difficulty: HARD
⏱️ Time to exploit: > 4 hours
🛠️ Required skills: Advanced security expertise
💰 Public exploits: Rare or not public
How to Fix:
- Check if you're running the affected product
- Update to the latest patched version
- If patching is not immediately possible: restrict network exposure, apply least-privilege access
- Test the fix in a staging environment first
- Review logs for signs of exploitation
- Monitor for IOCs (Indicators of Compromise)
- Enable automatic security updates
- Set up vulnerability monitoring
- Review and harden security configurations
Exploit Difficulty Assessment
Vulnerability Timeline
CVE details first published to NVD database
Added to this CVE tracking system
Detection Rules & IOCs
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No vendor/product data available.