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NVD / CVE Program· CNA Linux

CVE-2023-53354: skbuff: skb_segment, Call zero copy functions before using skbuff frags

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Monitor (action score 22/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.20% (FIRST EPSS).
  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
  • Fixed version: Linux Linux 04c3eee4e13f60bf6f9a366ad39f88a01a57166e, 2ea35288c83b3d501a88bc17f2df8f176b5cc96f, 6c26ed3c6abe86ddab0510529000b970b05c9b40.
  • Severity is disputed: the assigning authority (CNA) scores it 7.8, NVD 5.5.

Low priority for now. Upgrade to Linux Linux 04c3eee4e13f60bf6f9a366ad39f88a01a57166e, 2ea35288c83b3d501a88bc17f2df8f176b5cc96f, 6c26ed3c6abe86ddab0510529000b970b05c9b40 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

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.

MediumCVSS 5.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Sep 17, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
EPSS
0.2% · 10th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

22

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
22 / 40 · 5.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
0 / 30 · 0.2%

CISA SSVC decision

Exploitation
none
Automatable
no
Technical impact
partial

Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.

CNA vs NVD score

NVD
5.5
CNA · Linux
7.8
2.3 point gap

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
linuxlinux kernel

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • linux linux kernel4.16 and later · before 4.19.295
  • linux linux kernel4.20 and later · before 5.4.257
  • linux linux kernel5.5 and later · before 5.10.195
  • linux linux kernel5.11 and later · before 5.15.132
  • linux linux kernel5.16 and later · before 6.1.53
  • linux linux kernel6.2 and later · before 6.4.16
  • linux linux kernel6.5 and later · before 6.5.3

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (Linux). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • Linux Linux

    • 4.16affected
    • bf5c25d608613eaf4dcdba5a9cac5b2afe67d635 and later · before fcab3f661dbfd88e27ddbbe65368f3fa2d823175affected · git
    • bf5c25d608613eaf4dcdba5a9cac5b2afe67d635 and later · before d44403ec0676317b7f7edf2a035bb219fee3304eaffected · git
    • bf5c25d608613eaf4dcdba5a9cac5b2afe67d635 and later · before 8836c266201c29a5acb4f582227686f47b65ad61affected · git
    • bf5c25d608613eaf4dcdba5a9cac5b2afe67d635 and later · before d5790386595d06ea9decfd9ba5f1ea48cf09aa02affected · git
    • bf5c25d608613eaf4dcdba5a9cac5b2afe67d635 and later · before 04c3eee4e13f60bf6f9a366ad39f88a01a57166eaffected · git
    • bf5c25d608613eaf4dcdba5a9cac5b2afe67d635 and later · before f99006e840a4dbc8f5a34cecc6b5b26c73ef49bbaffected · git
    • bf5c25d608613eaf4dcdba5a9cac5b2afe67d635 and later · before 6c26ed3c6abe86ddab0510529000b970b05c9b40affected · git
    • bf5c25d608613eaf4dcdba5a9cac5b2afe67d635 and later · before 2ea35288c83b3d501a88bc17f2df8f176b5cc96faffected · git
    • before 4.16not affected · semver

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12linuxbefore 6.1.55-16.1.55-1
Debian:13linuxbefore 6.5.3-16.5.3-1
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseosbpftoolbefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseosbpftool-debuginfobefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernelbefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-abi-whitelistsbefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-corebefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-debugbefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-debug-corebefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-debug-debuginfobefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-debug-develbefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-debug-modulesbefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-debug-modules-extrabefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-debuginfobefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64before 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-develbefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-docbefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-modulesbefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-modules-extrabefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-toolsbefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-tools-debuginfobefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseoskernel-tools-libsbefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseosperfbefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2
Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseosperf-debuginfobefore 0:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_20:4.18.0-193.178.1.el8_2

+96

Same product

linux: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2026-31431crypto: algif_aead - Revert to operating out-of-placeKEV
    90Now
  • CVE-2022-0847A flaw was found in the way the "flags" member of the new pipe buffer structure was lacking proper initialization in copy_page_to_iter_pipe KEV
    89Now
  • CVE-2021-22555Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACEKEV
    85Now

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2023-53351Sep 17, 2025 · drm/sched: Check scheduler work queue before calling timeout handling
    22Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2023-53352Sep 17, 2025 · drm/ttm: check null pointer before accessing when swapping
    22Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2023-53355Sep 17, 2025 · staging: pi433: fix memory leak with using debugfs_lookup()
    22Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
Linux Linux04c3eee4e13f60bf6f9a366ad39f88a01a57166eVendor (CNA)
Linux Linux2ea35288c83b3d501a88bc17f2df8f176b5cc96fVendor (CNA)
Linux Linux6c26ed3c6abe86ddab0510529000b970b05c9b40Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux8836c266201c29a5acb4f582227686f47b65ad61Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxd44403ec0676317b7f7edf2a035bb219fee3304eVendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxd5790386595d06ea9decfd9ba5f1ea48cf09aa02Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxf99006e840a4dbc8f5a34cecc6b5b26c73ef49bbVendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxfcab3f661dbfd88e27ddbbe65368f3fa2d823175Vendor (CNA)
debian:linux6.1.55-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
red hat:bpftool-debuginfo0:7.0.0-284.88.1.el9_2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-64k-debug-debuginfo0:5.14.0-284.88.1.el9_2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-64k-debug-devel0:5.14.0-284.88.1.el9_2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched0:5.14.0-284.88.1.el9_2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-64k-debuginfo0:5.14.0-284.88.1.el9_2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-64k-devel0:5.14.0-284.88.1.el9_2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-64k-devel-matched0:5.14.0-284.88.1.el9_2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug-debuginfo0:5.14.0-284.88.1.el9_2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug-devel0:5.14.0-284.88.1.el9_2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debug-devel-matched0:5.14.0-284.88.1.el9_2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debuginfo0:5.14.0-284.88.1.el9_2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch640:5.14.0-284.88.1.el9_2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

No dated events beyond publication.

No history yet (it accumulates with the daily EPSS job).

Patch and commit links

Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.

No commit or PR link among the references.

Credits

All researchers

Finders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.

No credits in the CNA record.

Variant candidates

Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.

No nightly-computed relations.

Chain candidates

An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.

—

Bug bounty scope

No known public program.

Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).

Technical details

Attack conditions

  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
  • A low-privileged account is enough.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality
none
Integrity
none
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
None
Integrity impact
None
Availability impact
High

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-476 · NULL Pointer Dereference

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

nvd-primary

Attack context

MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.

MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.

Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →

References

Show all references (7 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records