CVE-2023-54288

EPSS 0.0%
  • Published: 2025-12-30T13:16:17.833

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

wifi: mac80211: fortify the spinlock against deadlock by interrupt

In the function ieee80211_tx_dequeue() there is a particular locking
sequence:

begin:
spin_lock(&local->queue_stop_reason_lock);
q_stopped = local->queue_stop_reasons[q];
spin_unlock(&local->queue_stop_reason_lock);

However small the chance (increased by ftracetest), an asynchronous
interrupt can occur in between of spin_lock() and spin_unlock(),
and the interrupt routine will attempt to lock the same
&local->queue_stop_reason_lock again.

This will cause a costly reset of the CPU and the wifi device or an
altogether hang in the single CPU and single core scenario.

The only remaining spin_lock(&local->queue_stop_reason_lock) that
did not disable interrupts was patched, which should prevent any
deadlocks on the same CPU/core and the same wifi device.

This is the probable trace of the deadlock:

kernel: ================================
kernel: WARNING: inconsistent lock state
kernel: 6.3.0-rc6-mt-20230401-00001-gf86822a1170f #4 Tainted: G W
kernel: ——————————–
kernel: inconsistent {IN-SOFTIRQ-W} -> {SOFTIRQ-ON-W} usage.
kernel: kworker/5:0/25656 [HC0[0]:SC0[0]:HE1:SE1] takes:
kernel: ffff9d6190779478 (&local->queue_stop_reason_lock){+.?.}-{2:2}, at: return_to_handler+0x0/0x40
kernel: {IN-SOFTIRQ-W} state was registered at:
kernel: lock_acquire+0xc7/0x2d0
kernel: _raw_spin_lock+0x36/0x50
kernel: ieee80211_tx_dequeue+0xb4/0x1330 [mac80211]
kernel: iwl_mvm_mac_itxq_xmit+0xae/0x210 [iwlmvm]
kernel: iwl_mvm_mac_wake_tx_queue+0x2d/0xd0 [iwlmvm]
kernel: ieee80211_queue_skb+0x450/0x730 [mac80211]
kernel: __ieee80211_xmit_fast.constprop.66+0x834/0xa50 [mac80211]
kernel: __ieee80211_subif_start_xmit+0x217/0x530 [mac80211]
kernel: ieee80211_subif_start_xmit+0x60/0x580 [mac80211]
kernel: dev_hard_start_xmit+0xb5/0x260
kernel: __dev_queue_xmit+0xdbe/0x1200
kernel: neigh_resolve_output+0x166/0x260
kernel: ip_finish_output2+0x216/0xb80
kernel: __ip_finish_output+0x2a4/0x4d0
kernel: ip_finish_output+0x2d/0xd0
kernel: ip_output+0x82/0x2b0
kernel: ip_local_out+0xec/0x110
kernel: igmpv3_sendpack+0x5c/0x90
kernel: igmp_ifc_timer_expire+0x26e/0x4e0
kernel: call_timer_fn+0xa5/0x230
kernel: run_timer_softirq+0x27f/0x550
kernel: __do_softirq+0xb4/0x3a4
kernel: irq_exit_rcu+0x9b/0xc0
kernel: sysvec_apic_timer_interrupt+0x80/0xa0
kernel: asm_sysvec_apic_timer_interrupt+0x1f/0x30
kernel: _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore+0x3f/0x70
kernel: free_to_partial_list+0x3d6/0x590
kernel: __slab_free+0x1b7/0x310
kernel: kmem_cache_free+0x52d/0x550
kernel: putname+0x5d/0x70
kernel: do_sys_openat2+0x1d7/0x310
kernel: do_sys_open+0x51/0x80
kernel: __x64_sys_openat+0x24/0x30
kernel: do_syscall_64+0x5c/0x90
kernel: entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x72/0xdc
kernel: irq event stamp: 5120729
kernel: hardirqs last enabled at (5120729): [] trace_graph_return+0xd6/0x120
kernel: hardirqs last disabled at (5120728): [] trace_graph_return+0xf0/0x120
kernel: softirqs last enabled at (5069900): [] return_to_handler+0x0/0x40
kernel: softirqs last disabled at (5067555): [] return_to_handler+0x0/0x40
kernel:
other info that might help us debug this:
kernel: Possible unsafe locking scenario:
kernel: CPU0
kernel: —-
kernel: lock(&local->queue_stop_reason_lock);
kernel:
kernel: lock(&local->queue_stop_reason_lock);
kernel:
*** DEADLOCK ***
kernel: 8 locks held by kworker/5:0/25656:
kernel: #0: ffff9d618009d138 ((wq_completion)events_freezable){+.+.}-{0:0}, at: process_one_work+0x1ca/0x530
kernel: #1: ffffb1ef4637fe68 ((work_completion)(&local->restart_work)){+.+.}-{0:0}, at: process_one_work+0x1ce/0x530
kernel: #2: ffffffff9f166548 (rtnl_mutex){+.+.}-{3:3}, at: return_to_handler+0x0/0x40
kernel: #3: ffff9d619
—truncated—

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How to fix CVE-2023-54288

CVE-2023-54288 is a unknown severity vulnerability affecting the affected product.

Description: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: fortify the spinlock against deadlock by interrupt In the function ieee80211_tx_dequeue() there is a particular locking sequence: begin: spin_lock(&local->queue_stop_reason_lock); q_stopped = local->queue_stop_reasons[q]; spin_unlock(&local->queue_stop_reason_lock); However small the chance (increased by ftracetest), an asynchronous interrupt can occur in between of spin_lock() and spin_unlock(), and the […]

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 30, 2025
Vulnerability Published

CVE details first published to NVD database

Dec 30, 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.