CVE-2023-53809

EPSS 0.0%
  • Published: 2025-12-09T01:16:52.940

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

l2tp: Avoid possible recursive deadlock in l2tp_tunnel_register()

When a file descriptor of pppol2tp socket is passed as file descriptor
of UDP socket, a recursive deadlock occurs in l2tp_tunnel_register().
This situation is reproduced by the following program:

int main(void)
{
int sock;
struct sockaddr_pppol2tp addr;

sock = socket(AF_PPPOX, SOCK_DGRAM, PX_PROTO_OL2TP);
if (sock < 0) {
perror("socket");
return 1;
}

addr.sa_family = AF_PPPOX;
addr.sa_protocol = PX_PROTO_OL2TP;
addr.pppol2tp.pid = 0;
addr.pppol2tp.fd = sock;
addr.pppol2tp.addr.sin_family = PF_INET;
addr.pppol2tp.addr.sin_port = htons(0);
addr.pppol2tp.addr.sin_addr.s_addr = inet_addr("192.168.0.1");
addr.pppol2tp.s_tunnel = 1;
addr.pppol2tp.s_session = 0;
addr.pppol2tp.d_tunnel = 0;
addr.pppol2tp.d_session = 0;

if (connect(sock, (const struct sockaddr *)&addr, sizeof(addr)) < 0) {
perror("connect");
return 1;
}

return 0;
}

This program causes the following lockdep warning:

============================================
WARNING: possible recursive locking detected
6.2.0-rc5-00205-gc96618275234 #56 Not tainted
——————————————–
repro/8607 is trying to acquire lock:
ffff8880213c8130 (sk_lock-AF_PPPOX){+.+.}-{0:0}, at: l2tp_tunnel_register+0x2b7/0x11c0

but task is already holding lock:
ffff8880213c8130 (sk_lock-AF_PPPOX){+.+.}-{0:0}, at: pppol2tp_connect+0xa82/0x1a30

other info that might help us debug this:
Possible unsafe locking scenario:

CPU0
—-
lock(sk_lock-AF_PPPOX);
lock(sk_lock-AF_PPPOX);

*** DEADLOCK ***

May be due to missing lock nesting notation

1 lock held by repro/8607:
#0: ffff8880213c8130 (sk_lock-AF_PPPOX){+.+.}-{0:0}, at: pppol2tp_connect+0xa82/0x1a30

stack backtrace:
CPU: 0 PID: 8607 Comm: repro Not tainted 6.2.0-rc5-00205-gc96618275234 #56
Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.1-2.fc37 04/01/2014
Call Trace:

dump_stack_lvl+0x100/0x178
__lock_acquire.cold+0x119/0x3b9
? lockdep_hardirqs_on_prepare+0x410/0x410
lock_acquire+0x1e0/0x610
? l2tp_tunnel_register+0x2b7/0x11c0
? lock_downgrade+0x710/0x710
? __fget_files+0x283/0x3e0
lock_sock_nested+0x3a/0xf0
? l2tp_tunnel_register+0x2b7/0x11c0
l2tp_tunnel_register+0x2b7/0x11c0
? sprintf+0xc4/0x100
? l2tp_tunnel_del_work+0x6b0/0x6b0
? debug_object_deactivate+0x320/0x320
? lockdep_init_map_type+0x16d/0x7a0
? lockdep_init_map_type+0x16d/0x7a0
? l2tp_tunnel_create+0x2bf/0x4b0
? l2tp_tunnel_create+0x3c6/0x4b0
pppol2tp_connect+0x14e1/0x1a30
? pppol2tp_put_sk+0xd0/0xd0
? aa_sk_perm+0x2b7/0xa80
? aa_af_perm+0x260/0x260
? bpf_lsm_socket_connect+0x9/0x10
? pppol2tp_put_sk+0xd0/0xd0
__sys_connect_file+0x14f/0x190
__sys_connect+0x133/0x160
? __sys_connect_file+0x190/0x190
? lockdep_hardirqs_on+0x7d/0x100
? ktime_get_coarse_real_ts64+0x1b7/0x200
? ktime_get_coarse_real_ts64+0x147/0x200
? __audit_syscall_entry+0x396/0x500
__x64_sys_connect+0x72/0xb0
do_syscall_64+0x38/0xb0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd

This patch fixes the issue by getting/creating the tunnel before
locking the pppol2tp socket.

Related CVE by CWE

No related CWE found.

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How to fix CVE-2023-53809

CVE-2023-53809 is a unknown severity vulnerability affecting the affected product.

Description: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: l2tp: Avoid possible recursive deadlock in l2tp_tunnel_register() When a file descriptor of pppol2tp socket is passed as file descriptor of UDP socket, a recursive deadlock occurs in l2tp_tunnel_register(). This situation is reproduced by the following program: int main(void) { int sock; struct sockaddr_pppol2tp addr; sock […]

Exploit Difficulty: HARD
⏱️ Time to exploit: > 4 hours
🛠️ Required skills: Advanced security expertise
💰 Public exploits: Rare or not public

How to Fix:

1 Identify affected systems

- Check if you're running the affected product

2 Immediate actions

- Update to the latest patched version
- If patching is not immediately possible: restrict network exposure, apply least-privilege access

3 Verification

- Test the fix in a staging environment first
- Review logs for signs of exploitation
- Monitor for IOCs (Indicators of Compromise)

4 Long-term prevention

- Enable automatic security updates
- Set up vulnerability monitoring
- Review and harden security configurations

Exploit Difficulty Assessment

HARD
⏱️ Time to Exploit: > 4 hours
🛠️ Skills Required: Advanced security expertise
💰 Public Exploits: Rare or not public

Vulnerability Timeline

Dec 09, 2025
Vulnerability Published

CVE details first published to NVD database

Dec 09, 2025
Imported to Database

Added to this CVE tracking system

Detection Rules & IOCs

No specific detection rules generated for this vulnerability type.

No vendor/product data available.