CVE-2023-53354

skbuff: skb_segment, Call zero copy functions before using skbuff frags

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: September 17, 2025 at 02:56 PM UTC
Updated: August 5, 2026 at 10:24 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

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 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] <TASK> [ 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] </TASK> 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.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

4.16 ≤ v < 4.19.2954.16 ≤ v < 5.10.1954.16 ≤ v < 5.15.1324.16 ≤ v < 5.4.2574.16 ≤ v < 6.1.534.16 ≤ v < 6.4.164.16 ≤ v < 6.5.34.16 ≤ v < 6.64.20 ≤ v < 5.4.2575.11 ≤ v < 5.15.1325.16 ≤ v < 6.1.535.5 ≤ v < 5.10.1956.2 ≤ v < 6.4.166.5 ≤ v < 6.5.34.16bf5c25d608613eaf4dcdba5a9cac5b2afe67d635
Vendor states this is fixed in 04c3eee4e13f60bf6f9a366ad39f88a01a57166e (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 2ea35288c83b3d501a88bc17f2df8f176b5cc96f (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6c26ed3c6abe86ddab0510529000b970b05c9b40 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 8836c266201c29a5acb4f582227686f47b65ad61 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in d44403ec0676317b7f7edf2a035bb219fee3304e (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in d5790386595d06ea9decfd9ba5f1ea48cf09aa02 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in f99006e840a4dbc8f5a34cecc6b5b26c73ef49bb (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in fcab3f661dbfd88e27ddbbe65368f3fa2d823175 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 4.16 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 4.19.295 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.10.195 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.15.132 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.4.257 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.53 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.4.16 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.5.3 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.6 (unaffected)

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

5.5MEDIUMCISA-ADP
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-476

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