// For flags

CVE-2023-53354

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

Severity Score

5.5
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

Track
*SSVC
Descriptions

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.

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.

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
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
Complete
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:Track
Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Tech. Impact
Partial
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2025-09-16 CVE Reserved
  • 2025-09-17 CVE Published
  • 2026-01-14 CVE Updated
  • 2026-02-25 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference
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"
 >= 4.16 < 4.19.295
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.16 < 4.19.295"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
 Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
 >= 4.16 < 5.4.257
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.16 < 5.4.257"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
 Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
 >= 4.16 < 5.10.195
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.16 < 5.10.195"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
 Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
 >= 4.16 < 5.15.132
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.16 < 5.15.132"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
 Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
 >= 4.16 < 6.1.53
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.16 < 6.1.53"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
 Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
 >= 4.16 < 6.4.16
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.16 < 6.4.16"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
 Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
 >= 4.16 < 6.5.3
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.16 < 6.5.3"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
 Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
 >= 4.16 < 6.6
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 4.16 < 6.6"
en
Affected