// For flags

CVE-2023-53338

lwt: Fix return values of BPF xmit ops

Severity Score

7.1
*CVSS v3

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: lwt: Fix return values of BPF xmit ops BPF encap ops can return different types of positive values, such like
NET_RX_DROP, NET_XMIT_CN, NETDEV_TX_BUSY, and so on, from function
skb_do_redirect and bpf_lwt_xmit_reroute. At the xmit hook, such return
values would be treated implicitly as LWTUNNEL_XMIT_CONTINUE in
ip(6)_finish_output2. When this happens, skbs that have been freed would
continue to the neighbor subsystem, causing use-after-free bug and
kernel crashes. To fix the incorrect behavior, skb_do_redirect return values can be
simply discarded, the same as tc-egress behavior. On the other hand,
bpf_lwt_xmit_reroute returns useful errors to local senders, e.g. PMTU
information. Thus convert its return values to avoid the conflict with
LWTUNNEL_XMIT_CONTINUE.

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: lwt: Fix return values of BPF xmit ops BPF encap ops can return different types of positive values, such like NET_RX_DROP, NET_XMIT_CN, NETDEV_TX_BUSY, and so on, from function skb_do_redirect and bpf_lwt_xmit_reroute. At the xmit hook, such return values would be treated implicitly as LWTUNNEL_XMIT_CONTINUE in ip(6)_finish_output2. When this happens, skbs that have been freed would continue to the neighbor subsystem, causing use-after-free bug and kernel crashes. To fix the incorrect behavior, skb_do_redirect return values can be simply discarded, the same as tc-egress behavior. On the other hand, bpf_lwt_xmit_reroute returns useful errors to local senders, e.g. PMTU information. Thus convert its return values to avoid the conflict with LWTUNNEL_XMIT_CONTINUE.

This update provides the initial livepatch for this kernel update. This update does not contain any fixes and will be updated with livepatches later.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Partial
Integrity
None
Availability
None
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2025-09-16 CVE Reserved
  • 2025-09-17 CVE Published
  • 2025-09-18 CVE Updated
  • 2025-12-12 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 4.10 < 5.4.257
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.10 < 5.4.257"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 4.10 < 5.10.195
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.10 < 5.10.195"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 4.10 < 5.15.132
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.10 < 5.15.132"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 4.10 < 6.1.53
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.10 < 6.1.53"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 4.10 < 6.4.16
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.10 < 6.4.16"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 4.10 < 6.5.3
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.10 < 6.5.3"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 4.10 < 6.6
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.10 < 6.6"
en
Affected